· ·

CME targets Earth and Mars – auroras and minor geomagnetic storming possible

cme-targets-earth-and-mars-auroras-and-minor-geomagnetic-storming-possible

The CME cloud launched from the Sun on February 24th should reach Earth today, Feb. 26th around 13:30 UTC, according to analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab. A filament of magnetism erupted at the sun’s northeastern limb  on February 24th and hurled CME into space toward Earth. Main part of the cloud headed north but lower edge of CME cloud will dip down low enough to brush Earth and Mars.

Coronal mass ejection impact forecast

 

NOAA/SWPC forecasters issued alert for possibility of G2 geomagnetic storm ( high-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms, long-duration storms may cause transformer damage) which will surely spark some nice auroras at high latitudes that could be visible around polar circles.

CURRENT CONDITIONS

Solar wind
speed: 408.9 km/sec
density: 0.8 protons/cm3

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 105 sfu

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 2 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal4.1 nT
Bz0.3 nT south 

Mars and Curiosity on the path of coronal mass ejection

Mars is also on the line of fire but the coronal mass ejection should reach it two days from now.  NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity is en route to the Mars and it’s equipped with a radiation sensor that could detect energetic particles accelerated by the CME’s passage just as it did before. Unlike other Mars rovers, Curiosity is equipped with a Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) which counts cosmic rays, neutrons, protons and other particles over a wide range of biologically interesting energies. In the aftermath of the January 27th X-class solar flare event, RAD detected a surge of particles several times more numerous than the usual cosmic ray counts.

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

One Comment

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *