Space Events

Severe Solar Storm

A severe solar storm slammed Earth on Monday afternoon, increasing the chances of fluctuations in the power grid and GPS. It also pushes shimmering polar auroras to places where more people can possibly see them.

Federal forecasters said the Northern Lights may be able to be seen Tuesday night as far south as Iowa or Pennsylvania.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a potent blast of magnetic plasma shot out of the sun on Sunday, travelling faster than usual, hitting Earth with the biggest solar storm since September 2005. The storm could last a day or longer.

Space Events

Overnight on October 4-5, 2012, a mass of energetic particles from the atmosphere of the Sun were flung out into space, a phenomenon known as a coronal mass ejection. Three days later, the storm from the Sun stirred up the magnetic field around Earth and produced gorgeous displays of northern lights. At the Polarlightcenter in Lofoten, Norway, the reverberating magnetic field induced electrical currents in the ground. Arctic sky watchers should remain alert for auroras on Oct. 18-19, especially during the hours around local midnight.

 

Meteor sighting. On the night of Oct. 17th, many people near San Francisco, California, USA saw a slow-moving fireball exploding in the sky around 07:45 pm PDT. Witnesses report bright flashes of light and sonic booms that shook houses.

Solar Activity

A geomagnetic storm is in progress as Earth's magnetic field is hit by the effects of recent strong solar activity. Sky gazers in Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska and northern-tier US states from Maine to Washington may see spectacular auroras after nightfall. The hours around local midnight are usually best for aurora watching.

On July 14-15 Northern Lights could be seen in the United States as far south as California, Colorado, Missouri, Utah, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan and Arkansas.

Meanwhile in the southern hemisphere, the aurora australis has been sighted in New Zealand, Australia, and directly above the South Pole itself.

Solar Activity

Giant sunspot AR1515 fires off the biggest solar flare of the summer season. It is expected to arrive at the Earth within the next 2 days causing spectacular northern lights and possible geomagnetic disturbances.

 

Sunspots

An enormous sunspot group has formed on the surface of the sun measuring more than 100 000 kilometers across, prompting warnings of solar flares heading towards Earth. The solar storm is expected to reach the Earth from 9 May, and will generate spectacular northern lights for skywatchers at northern latitudes.