A ‘MEGA-BUBBLE’ ON THE SUN: NOAA has just released a list of highlights from young Solar Cycle 25. One of them must be seen to be believed: An X-class flare blowing a “mega-bubble” in the sun’s atmosphere. Full story and movie @ Spaceweather.com.
Above: The sun, blowing bubbles. Image credit: NOAA/GOES-16/SUVI
NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS ARE BACK: Last night, bright clouds of frosted meteor smoke drifted over Europe, signalling the start of the summer season for noctilucent clouds. The electric-blue forms were sighted in at least 7 countries, a number that could grow in the nights ahead as the clouds continue to spill across the Arctic Circle. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.
Solar Flare alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when strong flares are underway. Above: Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) over Denmark on June 5, 2023. Photo credit: Valther Jørgensen
GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Earth’s magnetic field is reverberating from an unexpected CME impact on May 6th, which sparked a G2-class geomagnetic storm. Another CME is following close on its heels. A second impact expected on May 7th or 8th could bring renewed geomagnetic storming with auroras across parts of Europe, Canada, and northern-tier US States. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.
CME alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when CMEs strike Earth. Above: Auroras over Gayford Pond (near Calgary, Alberta) following a CME strike on May 6th. Credit: Harlan Thomas
LOW LATITUDE AURORAS: Last night during a severe geomagnetic storm, auroras spilled out of the Arctic Circle and descended almost all the way to Mexico. Reports of red lights in the sky are pouring in from the entire southern tier of US states including California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Arkansas. Photos and movies @ Spaceweather.com.
Did you miss the storm? Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when geomagnetic storms erupt. Above: Red auroras over Ouray, Colorado. “After receiving numerous space weather alerts about the storm, I decided to take the camera out to catch the auroras — and there they were!” says photographer Matthew Genuit.
You don’t usually see the Northern Lights in southern Ontario, but Londoners got a treat from Mother Nature on Thursday, when the spectacular Aurora Borealis could be seen in the night sky.
Here are some pictures shared by Londoners.
Northern lights at around 11 p.m. on the outskirts of north London. (Supplied by Michelle Dzialakiewicz)
Space Weather News for March 23, 2023 https://spaceweather.com https://www.spaceweatheralerts.comSTRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress on March 23rd as solar wind flows through a crack in Earth’s magnetosphere. If the crack remains open long enough, sky watchers in northern-tier US states could see auroras tonight. Also, an amateur radio astronomer in Florida has observed a solar radio burst *at midnight.* Weird! Read all about it on today’s edition of Spaceweather.com.Geomagnetic Storm Alerts: Subscribe to our Space Weather Alert Service and you’ll receive instant text messages when geomagnetic storms are underway. Above: Bright auroras at sunrise over Kalispell, Montana, on March 23, 2023. Credit: Philip Granrud
STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress on March 23rd as solar wind flows through a crack in Earth’s magnetosphere. If the crack remains open long enough, sky watchers in northern-tier US states could see auroras tonight. Also, an amateur radio astronomer in Florida has observed a solar radio burst *at midnight.* Weird! Read all about it on today’s edition of Spaceweather.com.
Geomagnetic Storm Alerts: Subscribe to our Space Weather Alert Service and you’ll receive instant text messages when geomagnetic storms are underway.
Above: Bright auroras at sunrise over Kalispell, Montana, on March 23, 2023. Credit: Philip Granrud
“CHAIN REACTION” EXPLOSION: Yesterday, a magnetic filament on the sun erupted, setting off a chain reaction that included a solar flare, two types of radio blackout, and a potentially Earth-directed CME. Minor to moderate geomagnetic storms are possible on Feb. 27th. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.
Above: A magnetic filaments lifts off on Feb. 24th, the first step in a chain reaction of space weather events.
Space Weather News for Jan. 30, 2023 https://spaceweather.com https://www.spaceweatheralerts.comA LARGE COMET IS STREAKING TOWARD THE SUN: This is no ordinary flyby. Comet 96P/Machholz is streaking toward the sun for a close encounter deep inside the orbit of Mercury. 96P is unlike any other comet in the solar system, and surprises are possible when it feels the heat. Full story @ Spaceweather.com
Above: A SOHO coronagraph image of Comet 96P/Machholz approaching the sun
THE SUN JUST BROKE A COMET’S TAIL: Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3) is approaching Earth and giving astronomers a better look at its tail. Surprise: It’s broken. A ‘disconnection event’ is in progress, probably caused by a CME hitting the comet. More of these events are likely to be seen as the comet approaches Earth for a close encounter on Feb. 1st. Full story @ Spaceweather.com
Instant X-flare alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when strong solar flares are underway. Above: A disconnection event in the tail of Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3) on Jan. 17th. Credit: Michael Jaeger
ANOTHER X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Earth-orbiting satellites detected another X-class solar flare today–the second in less than a week and a possible harbinger of more to come. There are now two large, unstable sunspots capable of producing these strong explosions, and both are turning toward Earth. Full story and forecasts @ Spaceweather.com
Instant X-flare alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when strong solar flares are underway. Above: An X1.9-class solar flare on Jan. 9, 2023, recorded by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
On the 4th of January there was a Class X explosion on the farside of the sun. Now it is turning toward Earth, and has already caused shortwave radio blackouts. We might see some Aurora activity. CPL
X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: A large and potentially dangerous sunspot is turning toward Earth. This morning (Jan. 6th at 0057 UT) it unleashed an X-class solar flare and caused a shortwave radio blackout over the South Pacific Ocean. Given the size and apparent complexity of the active region, there’s a good chance the explosions will continue in the days ahead. Full story @ Spaceweather.com
Instant solar flare alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when strong solar flares are underway. Above: An X1.2-class solar flare on Jan. 6, 2023, recorded by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. Space Weather News for Jan 4, 2023 https://spaceweather.com https://www.spaceweatheralerts.com
SIGNIFICANT FARSIDE EXPLOSION: A powerful explosion rocked the farside of the sun yesterday, hurling a bright CME over the edge of the solar disk. It may have been an X-class event. Helioseismic echoes suggest that the source of the blast is just behind the sun’s southeastern limb and could turn to face Earth later this week. Full story @ Spaceweather.com
Instant solar flare alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when strong solar flares are underway.
Above: A bright CME emerges from the farside of the sun on Jan. 3rd. Credit: The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
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Northern lights at around 11 p.m. on the outskirts of north London. (Supplied by Michelle Dzialakiewicz)
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