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☆ A 'severe' geomagnetic storm is forecast for Earth for the first time in years — here's what to know about these storms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFor the first time in nearly 20 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecasted a "severe" G4 geomagnetic storm to hit this Friday, dazzling states across the northern US with aurora. G4 storms are the second-strongest type of geomagnetic storm. "If geomagnetic storms were hurricanes, 'severe' would be category 4," according to SpaceWeather.com. Solar storms happen when the sun shoots powerful explosions of highly-energized and magnetic plasma called coronal mass ejections toward Earth. Also, a severe storm might disrupt GPS, so it's best to have a written record and directions to important locations, like hospitals.

Persons: —, Matt Owens, Owens, George Lepp, Alex Young, NASA Goddard's, it's, Young Organizations: Service, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Business, University of Reading, NASA, NOAA, Northern, NASA Goddard's Heliophysics Locations: Sweden, South Africa, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania

☆ SpaceX rockets are burning bright red holes in Earth's atmosphere and they're becoming too common for astronomers' comfort
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Maiya Focht | Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

SpaceX rockets are ripping brightly colored holes in the Earth's ionosphere. AdvertisementSpaceX rocket launches are punching holes in part of Earth's atmosphere, called the ionosphere, and it's a beautiful sight to behold. The holes appear as bright red blobs in the sky. Recently, these spherical red blobs have been popping up over MacDonald Observatory in Texas, which has astronomers slightly worried for the future. AdvertisementHow ionospheric holes could disrupt astronomical observationsThese bright red blobs don't last long.

Persons: —, Stephen Hummel, Spaceweather.com, Hummel, Jeffrey Baumgardner, Baumgardner Organizations: SpaceX, Service, MacDonald Observatory, McDonald Observatory, Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Saturn, Kennedy Space Center, Science Magazine, McDonald Locations: Texas, California, Florida

☆ A solar eruption headed straight for Earth is eating up stray energy and could trigger a strong geomagnetic storm by Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A strong solar eruption this week could produce a powerful geomagnetic storm on Friday. The storm — called a coronal mass ejection — is eating up stray energy in space as it heads for Earth. AdvertisementA series of strong solar eruptions this week could trigger a powerful geomagnetic storm by Friday, bringing incredible aurora displays farther south than usual. This phenomenon is called a "Cannibal CME" and the end result could be a strong geomagnetic storm, Spaceweather.com reported. How to see the aurora this weekendThe storm could trigger aurora borealis farther south than usual.

Persons: —, Daniel Verscharen, It's Organizations: Service, CME, University College London, Prediction, NOAA Locations: Canada

☆ A cluster of sunspots 15 times bigger than Earth could send a solar storm our way as early as Saturday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

These have been fizzing with activity and could send solar weather toward Earth as early as Saturday. Space weather is mostly harmless, though scientists are looking out for a rare once-a-century superstorm. It had already shot out three M-class and several C-class solar flares before it came into view, per spaceweather.com. "The spots are fairly big and complex, which suggests they're likely to produce some space weather," said Owens. AdvertisementAs of Friday evening, the US and UK agencies that monitor space weather forecasted a low risk of any type of dangerous solar weather in the coming days.

Persons: Daniel Verscharen, Matt Owens, Owens, they're Organizations: Service, European Space Agency, NASA, University College London, University of Reading, US

☆ Photos show the Northern Lights appeared as far south as Texas on Sunday from a double eruption on the sun. Auroras could become more common as solar activity nears its peak.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Northern Lights could be seen in rare locations across the US over the weekend. Lubbock, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah experienced the light shows. Stunning auroras this far south are rare but could become more common in the next year, or so. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Northern Lights lit up the skies with brilliant reds, purples, and greens in a rare appearance this weekend in the southern half of the US. However, the sun is becoming more active and will soon reach solar maximum, a time of peak activity when solar eruptions are more common.

Persons: —, South Dakota DeKalb , Illinois Landon Moeller Organizations: Service, Weather Service, Salt Lake, Canada Northern, Northern, NOAA Locations: Lubbock , Texas, Salt Lake City , Utah, Colorado, Texas, Spokane , Washington, Aberdeen, South Dakota, Spokane , Washington Lubbock , Texas Riverton , Wyoming Salt Lake City , Utah, Salt, Salt Lake City, South Dakota DeKalb , Illinois, Park, Virginia, , Virginia Glasgow , Montana Ellicott City , Maryland Happisburgh, England Calgary , Alberta, Canada, Southern

☆ A mysterious green comet is approaching Earth and could be visible to the naked eye soon. Here's how to see it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Comet Nishimura could grace our skies with its eerie glow in early September. The comet may become visible to the naked eye in the coming weeks, NASA said. It may be one of the very few interstellar objects that have visited our solar system. "Will Comet Nishimura become visible to the unaided eye? If this hyperbolic orbit is confirmed, Comet Nishimura would join a very short list of interstellar objects that have visited the solar system.

Persons: Comet Nishimura, Hideo Nishimura, spaceweather.com Organizations: NASA, Service, Forbes Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ A physicist says it's 'quite possible' a SpaceX launch punched a hole in parts of the Earth's atmosphere
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A physicist says a SpaceX rocket may have punched a temporary hole in the ionosphere. A space physicist has said it's "quite possible" that a SpaceX rocket launched earlier this month made a hole in the Earth's ionosphere. The ionosphere is where Earth's atmosphere meets space and stretches roughly 50 to 400 miles above Earth's surface, Nasa said. A picture of the incident was captured by photographer Jeremy Perez on July 19 after SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from a base in California. In 2018, the outlet reported that another Falcon 9 launch caused a 560-mile-wide hole in the Earth's ionosphere that lasted for two to three hours.

Persons: Jeff Baumgardner, Jeremy Perez, Perez, Baumgardner Organizations: SpaceX, Boston University, Morning, Nasa, Arts Technica Locations: California

☆ A sunspot four times the size of Earth is visible right now — here's how to see it without a telescope
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A sunspot four times the size of the Earth is crossing the sun right now. "A giant sunspot is crossing the sun's disk, and I could see it clearly with solar glasses," said Yeom, per spaceweather.com, adding: "Caution! The sun is gearing up to a peak of activityA video of the sun taken on May 18 shows a powerful solar flare being released. SDO/NASAExperts have been keeping a watchful eye on this particular sunspot, called AR3310, while it is facing the Earth. As this one rolled around the side of the sun, it let off a substantial solar flare, a giant explosion that sends energy, light, and high-speed particles into space.

☆ Powerful solar flare that erupted from a sunspot three times the size of the Earth caused widespread radio blackouts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A powerful solar flare exploded on Tuesday, caused by a sunspot three times the size of the Earth. There have been a series of recent space weather events as the sun enters a period of peak activity. A video of the sun taken on May 18 shows a powerful solar flare being released. As the sun becomes more active, it is exhibiting more frequent solar events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. An X-class solar flare was spotted in March causing radio blackouts in parts of southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

☆ A powerful solar storm is hitting Earth, sparking stunning northern and southern lights across the planet. Here's how to see them tonight.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A powerful G4 solar storm is hitting the Earth with winds as fast as 600 mph. Auroras seen in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on March 24, 2023. NWS La CrosseThe spectacle also gave a treat to skygazers globally, with the lights seen across the UK, in the skies over Kyiv, Ukraine, and as far as Victoria, Australia. SANKA VIDANAGAMA/AFP via Getty ImagesThe powerful storm should continue until Monday evening. Storms like this aren't just prettyA view of the sun on April 21 shows the coronal mass ejection that caused the April 24 storm.

☆ Mysterious glowing 'SpaceX spirals' in the night sky seem to be linked to rocket launches
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It's likely a cloud of excess fuel from a SpaceX rocket launched earlier that day. "SpaceX spirals" are rare, but they may be getting more common. These spirals are appearing shortly after SpaceX rocket launches, and are probably residual fuel the rockets released during flight, space physicist Don Hampton told the Associated Press. SpaceX spirals, jellyfish, and smoke rings may happen more oftenThis is the third time in the past year that a Falcon 9 rocket has appeared to produce a SpaceX spiral. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft launches at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

☆ Dramatic image shows a 'plasma waterfall' on the sun that's 8 times the size of Earth
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This is the latest in a string of stunning solar events as our sun nears a peak of activity. The solar plasma 'waterfall' is shown here on the southern hemisphere of the sun on March 9, 2023. About every decade, the sun's magnetic poles flip, which causes havoc with local magnetic fields that are bursting all over our star. NASA Solar Dynamics ObservatoryA massive coronal "hole" in our sun that spewed energy towards the Earth in recent weeks. NASA / Solar Dynamics ObservatorySpace weather is not just prettyScientists don't only look to the sun to see these beautiful structures.

☆ A powerful 'X-class' solar flare just hit Earth. Forecasters are bracing for more sun activity in the coming days.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The sun blasted Earth with a powerful X-class solar flare on Tuesday, causing radio blackouts. Three more moderate solar flares followed, and we could see more eruptions in the coming days. This may be a precursor to even more solar activity in the coming days. NASA/SDOThat report forecast a chance of more M-class flares in the coming days, with a "slight chance" of another X-class flare on Thursday. More often, though, solar activity triggers energetic displays of Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, sometimes pushing them further south than their normal Arctic occurrence.

☆ Ghostly flying 'whirlpool' that appeared above Hawaii could be leftover SpaceX rocket fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Chris Panella | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Japanese telescope captured footage of the anomaly after a SpaceX navigation satellite launch. "The Subaru-Asahi Star Camera captured a mysterious flying spiral over Maunakea, Hawai`i," the Subaru Telescope said on Twitter on January 19. SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 rocket carrying a pair of television broadcasting satellites at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Michael Weekes Jr./ReutersThis isn't the first time a spiral has been spotted in the sky after a SpaceX launch. The SpaceX rocket is also known for the "space jellyfish" it often paints across the sky as it climbs through the atmosphere.

☆ NASA said the sun was seen 'smiling' in a newly released satellite image
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Hannah Williams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The sun can be seen 'smiling' in a new image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. The "eyes" and "mouth" on the surface of the sun are coronal holes. The photo was captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, a program working to understand the changes in the Sun's radiation output. Today, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory caught the Sun "smiling." "Seen in ultraviolet light, these dark patches on the Sun are known as coronal holes and are regions where fast solar wind gushes out into space."

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