Today, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory is monitoring sine wave 400,000 km long. It’s an enormous filament of magnetism slithering over the sun’s northeastern limb:One of the wave troughs appears to be passing through the core of sunspot 1282. If so, an eruption
While scientists keep a close watch on the myriad space rocks near Earth, they don’t yet have a solid plan on what to do if one appears headed on a collision course toward our planet.Two new studies propose potential spacecraft missions that would collide with
NASA’s Desert Research and Technology Studies (RATS) team has commenced testing communication scenarios for near-Earth asteroids. The RATS team also evaluates technology, human-robotic systems and extravehicular equipment in the high desert near Flagstaff,…
Sunspots are emerging at several locations around the solar disk, peppering the Earth-side of the sun with active regions. Of particular interest is fast-growing sunspot 1282, shown here in an August 31st snapshot from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory:AR1282 has
Whenever astronomers discover a comet headed inbound toward a close encounter the Sun, there's always buzz among observers about how bright it might get. That was certainly the case last December, when Comet Elenin (C/2010 X1) made its debut. Many hoped
A bright meteor lit up the night sky above Atlanta on Sunday, August 28, 2011, in a dazzling display caught by NASA cameras. The meteor streaked over Atlanta, Ga., and its surrounding cities at the mind-blowing speed of about 52,800 mph (84,970 kph). NASA's…
NOAA forecasters estimate a 25% chance of polar geomagnetic activity today in response to the expected impact of an incoming solar wind stream. Solar activity is at very low levels and there is currently no chance for strong solar flares on the earth facing side of…
A yawning dark hole in the sun's atmosphere is spewing solar wind toward Earth. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the opening during the early hours of Aug. 26th: Solar wind flowing from this coronal hole is expected to arrive on Aug. 28-29,…
A solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field during the early hours of August 24th, sparking geomagnetic activity around the Arctic Circle. "Bright, fast-moving auroras lit up the sky just after midnight," reports Sean M. Scully, who sends this picture f
Every time you look, sunspot 1271 has a new outline. For the past two days the active region has been in a constant state of change, altering its shape on an hourly basis. Click on the image for 48 hours of shape-shifting:These rapid changes have caused the
