Space weather is a big deal, and NASA is taking steps to understand it better. On a recent Wednesday, two satellites were sent into space from California on a SpaceX rocket. This mission, called TRACERS, is set to study the polar cusps, areas in Earth's magnetic field near the poles. These areas are key to creating the beautiful auroras we see, but they also play a r...
The sun is stirring up trouble again. A geomagnetic storm is on its way, and it might just light up the night sky with auroras in unexpected places. This storm is expected to kick off on Friday the 13th and stick around until Sunday or Monday. Skywatchers in up to 18 states might get a glimpse of the Northern Lights, which is pretty unusual. Usually, these lights are...
The sun is acting up again, and it's not just about the pretty lights in the sky. On June 1, 2025, the Earth's magnetic field got a jolt, registering a geomagnetic K-index of 8, which is a big deal. This means strong electric currents are zipping through our planet's magnetic shield, signaling a severe solar storm. This storm is expected to stick around until at lea...
NASA has just launched an exciting new mission to keep an eye on the Sun's behavior. This mission, called PUNCH, uses four small satellites working together. These satellites give us a 3D view of the Sun's outer layer, known as the corona. This is a big deal because it helps us understand and predict solar storms. Solar storms can cause big problems on Earth...
The Earth is a bustling place, with a lot happening beneath its surface. It's got a squishy inside, a cracked outer layer, and a busy weather system. All these factors can set off big shifts in the Earth's crust, leading to earthquakes. But predicting these seismic events is tough. There are just too many things to consider, and the process leading up to a quake is l...
The sun's fiery outbursts are always a spectacle to behold. Recently, a space-based telescope captured stunning images of a massive burst of charged particles and magnetic fields, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), erupting from the sun's far side near its north pole. This event was captured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) GOES-19...
Imagine this: As you welcome 2025 with fireworks, the sky could light up with another amazing show – the northern lights! The sun recently had a bit of a tantrum, throwing out two big blobs of plasma. These are expected to hit Earth on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, causing a stunning display of auroras. If you live in states like Alaska, Washington, or even as ...
Scientists have discovered that stars similar to our Sun experience massive explosions called superflares about once every century. By studying 56, 000 Sun-like stars, researchers found that nearly 3, 000 of them had experienced these powerful outbursts. Although the Sun hasn’t had a recorded superflare, the data suggests that our star could potentially do so. These ...
Imagine this: a Thursday night in Texas, and the sky is painted with vibrant magenta and green hues from the Aurora Borealis, usually seen only in polar regions. This isn't a regular occurrence—it's the result of a severe geomagnetic storm. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rated this storm a 4 out of 5, which means it was pretty intense. Due...
Are you ready to see something amazing this weekend? The Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, might light up the skies over Northern California. Usually, these colorful lights are seen near the North Pole, but they sometimes travel south. This could happen on Friday night into Saturday morning and again on Saturday night into Sunday evening. Why is this h...