Sun produced a series of strong shortwave radio bursts

Sun produced a series of strong shortwave radio bursts

On July 7th, the sun produced a series of strong shortwave radio bursts. Click on the dynamic spectrum below to play a 21 MHz sample recorded by amateur radio astronomer Thomas Ashcraft in rural New Mexico. The action begins about 18 seconds into the 2-minute…

Sundiving comet

Sundiving comet

During the late hours of July 5th, an unnamed icy comet from the outer solar system dove into the sun and disintegrated. Click on the arrow to witness the death plunge recorded by coronagraphs onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO):Over the years,

A G1-class (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm is in progress

A G1-class (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm is in progress

High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. A G1-class (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm is in progress.NOAA Space Weather Scale for Geomagnetic StormsSolar windspeed:

A fast-moving stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth’s magnetic field

A fast-moving stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth’s magnetic field

A fast-moving stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth’s magnetic field. The combined effect of this stream plus a CME expected to arrive on June 24th has prompted NOAA forecasters to declare a 30% to 35% chance of geomagnetic storms during the next 24 hours.

Geomagnetic storm warning!

Geomagnetic storm warning!

A fast-moving stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth’s magnetic field. The combined effect of this stream plus a CME expected to arrive soon has prompted NOAA forecasters to declare a 30% to 35% chance of geomagnetic storms on June 23-24. High-latitude sky watchers

Impact of solstice solar flare is expected on June 24th

Impact of solstice solar flare is expected on June 24th

A CME propelled toward Earth by the “solstice solar flare” of June 21st may be moving slower than originally thought. Analysts at the GSFC Space Weather Lab have downgraded the cloud’s probable speed from 800 km/s to 650 km/s. Impact is now expected on June 24th at

Incoming solar flare, expecting geomagnetic storm

Incoming solar flare, expecting geomagnetic storm

Magnetic fields above sunspot complex 1236 erupted during the early hours of June 21st, producing a C7-class solar flare and a full-halo CME. The expanding cloud appears to be heading almost directly toward

M1.3 solar flare produced, CME expected on June 17

M1.3 solar flare produced, CME expected on June 17

On June 14th around 08:10 UTC, a magnetic filament near the sun's eastern limb became unstable and erupted. The resulting blast hurled a bright and massive CME into space. The expanding cloud was observed by 3 spacecraft: STEREO-A, STEREO-B and SOHO. Researchers…

M2.5 solar flare, CME expected on June 9 and 10

M2.5 solar flare, CME expected on June 9 and 10

On June 7th at 0641 UT, magnetic fields above sunspot complex 1226-1227 became unstable and erupted. The resulting blast produced an M2-class solar flare, an S1-class radiation storm, and an unbelievable movie:Much of the plasma thrown up by the blast simply fell