Latest news with #SpaceWeatherPredictionCenter
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
This ‘Large and Unstable' Sunspot Just Slammed Earth With Its Strongest Flare Yet
Scientists predict another solar eruption may take place today. An Earth-facing sunspot region has been raging with massive eruptions of hot gas that have caused disruptions to our communications systems—and there's still more to come. On Tuesday at 5:49 p.m. ET, sunspot region 4114 released an X.12 class solar flare that caused a radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center. This was the strongest flare released by this specific sunspot thus far. That said, this magnetically active region resulted in multiple eruptions over the past few days and is predicted to fling another one our way today. A sunspot is a dark, cooler area that appears like a smudged dot on the Sun. It forms when strong magnetic activity slows down the flow of hot gas from the star's interior to its surface. A byproduct of the Sun's complex magnetic field, sunspots occur more often during the solar maximum. The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle, marked by an ebb and flow of solar activity. During solar maximum, which officially kicked off in October 2024, the Sun erupts with more flares, coronal mass ejections, and magnetic storms. When all that activity is on the side of the Sun that's facing Earth, it's bad news for us. Sunspot region 4114 is a feisty one. Earlier this week, the sunspot released multiple M-class solar flares in less than 24 hours, according to 'Sunspot 4114 is large and unstable, with a 'delta-class' magnetic field that harbors energy for strong explosions,' the solar tracking website wrote. The strongest flare erupted on June 15 as an M8.46 class, causing a shortwave radio blackout over North America with loss of signal at frequencies below 20 Megahertz. Solar flares are categorized by their strength, starting at B-class, which are the weakest, all the way up to the strongest, the X-class. An M-class solar flare comes right before the X-class. The solar flare responsible for the geomagnetic storm that took place between May 10 to 12,2024 was classified as X1.1, just a tiny bit stronger than the latest flare produced by sunspot region 4114. The sunspot's previous flares also unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME), eruptions of solar material ejected from the Sun that can cause geomagnetic disturbances on Earth. Tuesday's flare, however, was not accompanied by a CME. Instead, it was an intense flash of electromagnetic energy that caused ionization in Earth's upper atmosphere, resulting in the radio blackout. The active sunspot region, which is still facing Earth, is predicted to release another solar flare on Wednesday, according to As the Sun rotates on its axis, the sunspot will become hidden from our view and Earth will be in the clear. There is a chance, however, that the sunspot remains active until it reappears in view again, unleashing more solar rage our way.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Will the Aurora Borealis be visible this week?
The sun has been crackling with eruptions known as solar flares, events that sometimes lead to the aurora glowing in the night sky. However, despite the recent flurry of activity on the sun, seeing the celestial lights may be tricky this week. Solar flares, like those detected on Sunday and Monday, often blast clouds of charged particles into space. When these particles collide with the Earth's atmosphere, they can create ribbons of light that dance across the sky. The recent eruptions were not pointed directly at the Earth, but should come close enough to spark some aurora on Wednesday and Thursday. The lights might become visible across parts of the northern U.S., but a widespread aurora outbreak like those seen in May and October 2024 is not expected. Summer solstice vs. Aurora Borealis Stargazing in the Northern Hemisphere at the end of June is challenging due to the solstice, which boasts the longest days-and, more importantly, the shortest nights-of the entire year. There may only be a few hours each night when it is dark enough to see the aurora before the morning twilight begins, gradually washing out the twinkling stars with sunlight. This year, the solstice falls on June 20. In parts of Canada and Alaska, it does not get dark enough at this time of year to see the northern lights, even during major events. When will the aurora be visible again? A minor geomagnetic storm (level 1 of 5) is likely this week, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. Typically, a geomagnetic storm needs to be at least moderate strength (level 2 of 5) for the aurora to appear across the far northern U.S. under ideal conditions. Additionally, clouds will be a concern across the Northeast, Great Lakes and northern Plains most of the week due to rounds of showers and thunderstorms, which could hinder views of the night sky. There is some good news for stargazers, however. The area of the sun that has been bursting with solar flares continues to be active. Additional eruptions could increase the likelihood of seeing the aurora despite the short nights around the solstice.
UPI
4 days ago
- Science
- UPI
Aurora Borealis to be visible but dim this week
The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, can be seen in the skies in the Shenandoah National Park near Front Royal, Va., in October 2024. The recent solar-flare eruptions were not pointed directly at the Earth, so the lights might be visible across parts of the northern United States, but a widespread aurora outbreak like those seen in May and October 2024 is not expected. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo The sun has been crackling with eruptions known as solar flares, events that sometimes lead to the aurora glowing in the night sky. However, despite the recent flurry of activity on the sun, seeing the celestial lights may be tricky this week. Solar flares, like those detected on Sunday and Monday, often blast clouds of charged particles into space. When these particles collide with the Earth's atmosphere, they can create ribbons of light that dance across the sky. The recent eruptions were not pointed directly at the Earth, but should come close enough to spark some aurora on Wednesday and Thursday. The lights might become visible across parts of the northern United States, but a widespread aurora outbreak like those seen in May and October 2024 is not expected. Summer solstice vs. Aurora Borealis Stargazing in the Northern Hemisphere at the end of June is challenging due to the solstice, which boasts the longest days -- and, more importantly, the shortest nights -- of the entire year. There may only be a few hours each night when it is dark enough to see the aurora before the morning twilight begins, gradually washing out the twinkling stars with sunlight. This year, the solstice falls on June 20. In parts of Canada and Alaska, it does not get dark enough at this time of year to see the northern lights, even during major events. When will the aurora be visible again? A minor geomagnetic storm (level 1 of 5) is likely this week, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. Typically, a geomagnetic storm needs to be at least moderate strength (level 2 of 5) for the aurora to appear across the far northern U.S. under ideal conditions. Additionally, clouds will be a concern across the Northeast, Great Lakes and northern Plains most of the week due to rounds of showers and thunderstorms, which could hinder views of the night sky. There is some good news for stargazers, however. The area of the sun that has been bursting with solar flares continues to be active. Additional eruptions could increase the likelihood of seeing the aurora despite the short nights around the solstice.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Aurora borealis alert: Rare celestial spectacle to be visible this weekend, when and where to watch
The northern lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are one of the most beautiful sights in the night sky. The phenomenon usually occurs when charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, from the sun interact with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 72 million kilometres per hour. However, the planet's magnetic field redirects these particles towards the magnetic north pole, which means they are usually visible near the Arctic Circle. But on June 12 and June 13, Earth witnessed a solar storm, because of which Aurora Borealis may stretch beyond their usual range. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center, the effects of the recent solar storm, along with a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) in the solar wind, may make Aurora Borealis visible in as many as 18 states in the northern part of the United States of America. The NOAA has also issued a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm warning for June 14, which means they might be visible as far as Wyoming and New York. Geomagnetic storms are mostly triggered by changes in the Earth's magnetic field, which is often caused by solar winds or storms. These storms are ranked on a G-scale that ranges from G1 to G5. For those wondering, the G2 storm, which is currently impacting Earth, pushes the aurora oval to southern parts of the planet. The agency also issued a list of states where Aurora Borealis may be visible. This includes Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Wyoming. However, they may be obstructed by several factors, like light pollution and cloud cover. The best time to witness the northern lights is between 1 to 2 AM, which is when the sky is darkest.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northern lights may be visible in these 18 US states tonight and over the weekend
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The northern lights could put on a show tonight and through the weekend as ongoing geomagnetic storm conditions driven by turbulent space weather may push aurora farther south than usual. Earth is currently reverberating from a solar storm impact that occurred overnight on June 12-13, during which moderate G2 geomagnetic storm levels were reached. A co-rotating interaction region (CIR) — a turbulent region in the solar wind in which fast-moving streams collide with slower wind ahead of them — is also on the way, with the effects expected around June 14. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm watch for June 14 due to the incoming solar wind from a large Earth-facing coronal hole. The U.K. Met Office echoes this forecast, predicting moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms on June 13-14, with activity expected to decline to unsettled levels by June 15-16. A G2 storm can shift the aurora oval — the ring-shaped zone where auroras typically form — farther south, allowing skywatchers across parts of the northern U.S. a chance to catch a glimpse of the elusive lights, weather and dark skies permitting. Geomagnetic storms are ranked using a G-scale, which ranges from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). Below, we have listed 18 states that appear either fully or in part above the possible view line for auroras tonight, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. They're ordered from most likely to least likely based on their proximity to the center of the auroral oval and how much of each state is within or near the view line. Keep in mind, auroras are fickle. Sometimes they show up much farther south than expected and other times they don't appear at all. Many conditions have to align for the perfect display. Alaska Montana North Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin Michigan South Dakota Maine Vermont New Hampshire Idaho Washington Oregon New York Massachusetts Connecticut Rhode Island Wyoming Viewing conditions also depend on more than just geomagnetic activity. Cloud cover, light pollution, and the brief summer night can all affect visibility. If you find yourself in one of the 18 states listed above (or simply want to try your luck) head to a dark, north-facing spot away from city lights. As we approach the summer solstice on June 20/21, nights are growing shorter, so your best window for viewing may be in the early morning hours, around 1 to 2 a.m. Interested in tracking space weather and knowing when and where to spot auroras? Download a space weather app that provides forecasts based on your location. One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android. However, any similar app should work well. I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings. Editor's note: If you snap a great picture of the northern or southern lights and would like to share it with readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
