Latest news with #CMEs
CBS News
2 days ago
- Science
- CBS News
See NASA's image of an intense X-class solar flare
NASA released a remarkable video from its Solar Dynamics Observatory of a flare erupting from the sun NASA released a remarkable video from its Solar Dynamics Observatory of a flare erupting from the sun NASA captured an image of an intense solar flare released by the sun on Tuesday evening. The solar flare peaked at 5:49 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory said. It was an X-class flare — the most intense kind, NASA said. Solar flares are essentially "giant explosions on the sun" that send energy, light and high-speed particles into space, according to NASA. An image captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the sun, colorized in teal to draw attention to the flare. The flare is visible as a bright flash at the center of the sun. The heat of a solar flare causes it to appear bright. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash near the middle of the image — on June 17, 2025. NASA/SDO The energy from solar flares can be disruptive, NASA says on its website. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids and navigation signals. They also can pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. Solar flares are also often associated with coronal mass ejections, or CMEs. CMEs are huge bubbles of coronal plasma that the sun occasionally ejects, NASA says online. Often, CMEs look like "huge, twisted ropes," NASA says, because they involve the sun's magnetic fields. Coronal mass ejections can also disrupt radio and satellite communications, and can also cause geomagnetic storms on Earth. In May 2024, a powerful coronal mass ejection brought the strongest geomagnetic storm in over 20 years to Earth. During the CME, multiple X-class solar flares were recorded. The storm caused some radio blackouts. Another strong geomagnetic storm in October 2024 led to the northern lights being visible as far south as Florida and over bright areas like New York City and Chicago.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Map Reveals US Blackout After Powerful Solar Flare
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Large parts of the USA suffered a radio blackout due to major activity in space this week. On June 15, North America found itself under a shortwave radio blackout, leading to a loss of signal at frequencies below 20 Megahertz (MHz). Amateur radio operators may have been affected by the signal loss, with commercial radio usually operating at a higher MHz rate. The blackout was caused by a solar flare from the sun, following a growing active region of a sunspot. Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation or light on the sun. They are the most powerful explosions in the solar system, and can contain as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs, according to NASA. Solar flares are classified according to their intensity, with an M being the second-highest on the scale. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the moment of eruption, which has been classed as an M8.3 solar flare—and which almost reached an X-class on the scale. A map showing the areas affected by the solar flare, including the entirety of North America. Inset, an image of the solar flare. A map showing the areas affected by the solar flare, including the entirety of North America. Inset, an image of the solar flare. NOAA/SWPC/NASA Solar flares can affect us on Earth, and radiation from this flare caused a shortwave radio blackout. A map released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the entirety of the United States was affected by the blackout, for MHz at around and under a rate of 20. Much of South America was affected on a lower scale, while Canada and Greenland were affected at the same rate as the US. As well as the radio blackout, the solar flare also hurled a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) into space. These clouds of solar material expand as they sweep through space, and the flank of this CME will hit Earth in the coming days, bringing a chance of geomagnetic storms. A solar flare erupting on June 15, causing the radio blackout. A solar flare erupting on June 15, causing the radio blackout. NASA / Solar Dynamics Observatory Geomagnetic storms caused by CMEs can lead to Aurora Borealis, or the northern lights, lighting up our skies. A previous recent geomagnetic storm prompted the NOAA to forecast a likelihood of Aurora over much of the US on June 13, with Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin predicted to be directly underneath the phenomenon. The northern lights are easiest to spot in clear weather and away from bright lights and light pollution of cities, however stargazers do not need to be directly underneath the phenomenon to view it. As NOAA explains on its website: "The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as a 1,000 km [621 miles] away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about space? Let us know via science@
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
NASA unveils first 'astonishing' images of huge Sun eruptions that cause Northern Lights
The astronomical phenomenon never fails to stun Scots and now we can see how it happens up close The Northern Lights are a huge spectacle in Scotland. We are one of a few lucky countries to experience the glorious phenomenon, with the best times being in March - April and September - October. The Northern Lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with atmospheric gases near Earth's magnetic poles, emitting light at various wavelengths and painting the sky with a range of colours. In others words, the stunning colours in the sky is the result of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which occur when solar particles enter Earth's atmosphere. These ejections, typically composed of nitrogen and other gases, emit the vibrant and luminous lights known as the aurora borealis when they burn up in the atmosphere. Now, NASA has released its first images of these large solar eruptions so we can see how it all happens up close. And they are pretty incredible. "These first images are astonishing, but the best is still yet to come,' said Craig DeForest, principal investigator from Southwest Research Institute's Solar System Science and Exploration Division in Boulder, Colorado. "Once the spacecraft are in their final formation, we'll be able to routinely track space weather in 3D across the entire inner solar system." The CME can be seen rising in the centre of the image, above the blocked-out Sun. The images were presented at the 246th American Astronomical Society meeting in Anchorage, Alaska this week. Stitched into a video, the snaps show giant CMEs growing as they travel across the inner solar system. In the video above, the first CME appears as an expanding "halo" around the Sun. The white dashes represent the view of an earlier coronagraph still used to forecast space weather. Later, the impact on Earth is visible as an abrupt brightening caused by the aurora takes place. For the star gazers among us, the new images show Venus, Jupiter, several constellations including Orion, and the Pleiades star cluster. The Moon can also be seen in the sequence of images. The images were taken with four cameras which work together as a single "virtual instrument" and captured the whole CMEs as they evolved in space in much greater detail than previously possible. Three Wide Field Imagers, which observe the faint, outermost portion of the Sun's atmosphere and solar wind (the continual stream of charged particles from the Sun), work with a Narrow Field Imager (NFI), a coronagraph which allows scientists to see details in the Sun's atmosphere by blocking out the bright light of the Sun itself. NASA will make continuous 3D observations of the Sun's outer atmosphere and the inner solar system so scientists can understand and predict space weather, which is driven by CMEs and can disrupt communications, endanger satellites and create Auroras, according to experts. This could help Scots get more accurate predictions about when the Northern Lights should appear overhead. From a space point of view, explorers will gain greater insight into how it impacts their other-worldly travels. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Boston Globe
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Northern Lights continue to be visible across northern New England to start the week
Monday and Tuesday night Aurora Forecast will extend the view line into Northern New England. Boston Globe The current geomagnetic storm was designated a level 4 out of 5 categories, making it one of the strongest space storms of the year. Advertisement The large field of solar particles and magnetically charged plasma, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), has weakened since its arrival yesterday but is still forecast to bring a 'strong' storm Monday evening. 'Although the current storm has weakened, its magnetic field has been persistent and quite slow to decrease before the CME leaves Earth behind,' said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. This means a 'large disturbance in Earth's magnetic field that varies in intensity,' the center said. This level of storm typically brings the viewing line to Central and Northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. After Tuesday night, 'nothing significant after the current CME has impacted the longer range forecast just yet,' Dahl said. What are coronal mass ejections? Coronal mass ejections are immense clouds of solar material blasted into space by the sun at more than 1 million miles per hour, often following a solar flare. CMEs expand as they sweep through space, often measuring millions of miles across. Advertisement As CMEs pass Earth, they create a geomagnetic storm — when plasma particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen ions in our upper atmosphere — resulting in the shimmering ribbons of color we call the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis. The collision of the charged particles and atoms in the Earth's atmosphere releases energy, creating visible light. BOSTON GLOBE The peak of Solar Cycle 25 The sun has been the most active we have seen in more than 20 years, dating back to May 2024 when a massive display of the Northern Lights could be seen as far south as Hawaii. This is because we're now experiencing what's known as solar max, the height of an 11-year solar cycle. The solar cycle is a naturally occurring phenomenon in which the sun's magnetic poles switch, causing changes in the sun's magnetic fields that create disruptions on its surface. Peak activity is expected to continue into 2026. You can see the observed and forecast solar activity in the current cycle below. The sun continues to see peak solar activity in the current cycle. NOAA The best strategy to catch the lights With mostly clear skies expected on Monday and Tuesday, there's a chance that you may catch the lights. Here are a few tips to maximize your chances of seeing the display. Make sure to get away from light pollution and look towards the north. Every smartphone has a compass app that can point you in the right direction. The best viewing window is typically during the darkest hours at night, currently from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Head to higher ground. If there is any way to get to higher elevation, your point of view becomes larger, increasing your chances. Break out the cellphone camera. The aurora is not always visible to the naked eye but your cellphone can pick up the wavelengths and capture what you can't see. 'Aim it up toward the sky and take a shot. You may be surprised when you check your phone later to find some beautiful shots,' said Brent Gordon, a scientist with the space weather center. Professional photographers also suggest enabling night mode on your cellphone so it automatically adjusts your camera settings for low-light conditions. In addition, adjust the exposure time to maximize the potential of your shot and make sure that the 'live' setting is off. Advertisement Ken Mahan can be reached at
San Francisco Chronicle
01-06-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
Northern lights may be visible Sunday night over California. Here's the best way to see them
The northern lights were visible across unusually low latitudes of the U.S. on Saturday night and could even make an appearance across portions of California on Sunday night. Residents in Seattle were treated to a dazzling display of purple and green hues early Sunday morning. Webcams across Northern California picked up northern lights, scientifically known as the aurora borealis, on the horizon. The enhanced auroral activity is being caused by a 'severe' geomagnetic storm, a level 4 out of 5 on the Space Weather Prediction Center's scale. A G4 or greater geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect Sunday into Monday morning. At this intensity, the northern lights could again be visible in portions of Northern California, especially from long-exposure cameras. Skies are expected to be mainly clear across Northern California on Sunday night, but there will be a few scattered high clouds to contend with. Some patchy fog along the coast could also spoil visibility of the aurora. Areas away from city light pollution will provide the best viewing chances for the northern lights. A waxing crescent moon could also make the aurora more difficult to see with the naked eye. The ongoing solar storm is caused by coronal mass ejections, pulses of the sun's magnetic field lurching toward Earth. G4 watch remains in effect for tonight, June 1 (EDT), as CME passage continues. CME passage is slowly weakening, but conditions still elevated, therefore additional periods of G3-G4 remain possible, although less likely. Continue to visit for latest info — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) June 1, 2025 'The G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect for tonight, June 1, as CME passage continues,' the Space Weather Prediction Center wrote. 'There are indications that the coronal mass ejection (CME) passage is weakening, but the solar wind conditions remain elevated, therefore additional periods of G3-G4 (Strong-Severe) levels remain possible.' According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, as 'CMEs leave the sun, it is possible to predict their path to determine if they will impact Earth. This technique is more challenging and the accuracy of these medium-range forecasts is not as good.' However, the aurora can be predicted 'quite accurately' 15 to 45 minutes in advance by measuring other astronomical conditions, such as the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field upstream of Earth. Strong coronal mass ejections can disrupt radio and satellite transmissions, potentially cause power outages and interfere with other pieces of infrastructure. Solar activity, which rises and falls on an 11-year cycle, is peaking. In May 2024, an extreme geomagnetic storm resulted in northern lights sightings all across California, even for some city dwellers. In October 2024, a severe geomagnetic storm brought another display to portions of the state, although less widespread than the May event. An average of 100 severe geomagnetic storms are classified as severe or greater in a typical 11-year solar cycle, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.
