solar activity Archives - Disasters News

Dec232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

NASA and SpaceX Set 2025 Launch for Interstellar Mapping Probe and Two Other Heliophysics Missions

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Space

NASA and SpaceX have announced a revised launch schedule for the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), targeting no earlier than September 2025. The adjustment allows NASA additional preparation time for the spacecraft. The IMAP mission is poised to explore the Sun's heliosphere a magnetic bubble that shields the solar system from interstellar particles. By sampling and mapping particles streaming toward Earth, the mission will offer critical insights into this protective boundary, which impacts space weather, human exploration, and even the existence of life in the universe. Rideshare Missions to L1 IMAP will share its SpaceX Falcon 9 flight with two additional heliophysics observatories: This mission will study Earth's geocorona, the ultraviolet-emitting outermo...

Dec232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Nasa’s Parker Solar Probe to Make Historic Christmas Eve Flyby of Sun

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Space

In a groundbreaking event Nasa's Parker Solar Probe is set to make its closest approach to the Sun on Christmas Eve December 24, 2024. The spacecraft will pass within approximately 6.1 million kilometers of the Sun's surface at 5:23 pm IST, marking the closest any human-made object has ever ventured toward a star. Mission operators at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland last communicated with the probe on December 21, confirming that all systems were functioning normally. However, during the critical close approach, the spacecraft will lose contact with Earth as it endures the intense conditions near the Sun. Nick Pinkine, mission operations manager for the Parker Solar Probe, expressed excitement about the flyby, calling it an unprecedented opportunity. “N...

Nov132024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Solar Surge Curtin University’s Binar Satellites Lost to High Solar Activity

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations, Space, Tech

Three Australian CubeSats from Curtin University's Binar Space Program recently burned up in Earth's atmosphere after only two months in orbit one-third of their expected mission duration. Named Binar-2, 3, and 4, these satellites were intended to last around six months in low Earth orbit but met an untimely end due to unexpected solar activity. In fact, “Binar” fittingly means “fireball” in Noongar, an Indigenous Australian language. Launched to gather scientific data and test new systems, the Binar satellites faced increased atmospheric drag caused by the Sun’s heightened activity. The Sun is currently in the peak phase of its 11-year solar cycle, known as solar cycle 25, during which solar flares, solar winds, and charged particles intensify. Recent solar indicators have shown activi...

Oct162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sun Enters Solar Maximum Triggering Strongest Geomagnetic Storm in Two Decades

Breaking News, Disasters, Space

NASA, NOAA, and the International Solar Cycle Prediction Panel have confirmed that the Sun has entered the peak phase of its 11-year cycle, known as Solar Cycle 25. This period, called the solar maximum, is characterized by heightened solar activity, including an increase in sunspots and solar eruptions. The solar maximum, which began earlier this year, is expected to last for about a year, posing both exciting research opportunities and challenges for technology and infrastructure on Earth. What is Solar Maximum? During the solar maximum, the Sun’s magnetic poles flip, and the number of sunspots and solar flares surge. These flares, along with coronal mass ejections (CMEs), can send vast amounts of charged particles into space, which interact with Earth's magnetic field. When these ...

Jun32024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sunspot Region AR 3697 Returns with a Bang, Unleashing Powerful X-Class Flares

Breaking News, Environment, Space

The sunspot region responsible for the glorious auroras that shimmered over most of Earth in early May is back, and it's still engaging in shenanigans. Known previously as AR 3664, this region was behind several X-class flares, including the most powerful of the current solar cycle. After rotating away from view onto the far side of the Sun in the middle of May, it re-emerged in style with a brand new name – AR 3697. On May 27, AR 3697 erupted with another powerful X-class flare, this time an X 2.8. Since then, it has continued its activity, producing four more X-class flares, bringing the total to five as of the latest reports. The sequence of events began on May 29 with an X1.45 flare, followed by an X1.1 flare on May 31. On June 1, AR 3697 unleashed two more flares, an X1.03 and a...

May132024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

NASA Explains Phenomenon Behind Spectacular Auroras Illuminating Earth’s Skies

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Space

Auroras, the mesmerizing celestial light shows, have once again graced the skies across several regions, captivating spectators with their vibrant hues of pink, green, and purple. This dazzling display, commonly known as the "northern lights," is a result of a powerful solar storm that has swept across the planet. The phenomenon, triggered by eruptions on the Sun, has been elucidated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in a recent thread on X (formerly Twitter), shedding light on the intricate interplay between solar activity and Earth's atmosphere. According to NASA, solar eruptions manifest in two primary forms: solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Solar flares, intense bursts of light, occur when the Sun's magnetic fields undergo abrupt rearrange...

May62024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earth Braces for Impact as Sun Unleashes Consecutive Flare To Threatening Technological Infrastructure

Breaking News, Disasters, Space

In a dramatic display of solar activity, the Sun has unleashed a series of powerful flares, posing potential risks to Earth's technological infrastructure and space exploration efforts. The recent surge in solar eruptions, occurring on consecutive days, has heightened concerns among scientists and space agencies worldwide. The first flare, categorized as an X-class flare, the most intense classification, occurred on May 2, originating from sunspot region AR3663. This eruption, lasting approximately 25 minutes, resulted in shortwave radio blackouts across regions including Australia, Japan, and parts of China. Solar physicist Keith Strong described it as an "impulsive flare," indicative of its sudden and intense nature. Barely a day later, on May 3, another significant eruption was ob...