For thousands of years, people have watched the vibrant auroras dance across the night sky. But these magnificent displays are more than just a pretty sight. They are a warning sign of a hidden danger: geomagnetically induced currents. Auroras are caused by particles from the sun hitting the Earth’s magnetic field. These forces can compress … Read more
When the sun bursts onto the surface, scientists watch closely to see if the impact of solar particles heads toward Earth and could disable our technology. Now a new satellite will enable unprecedented, 24-hour observations of our host star, allowing earlier detection, better predictions and advanced warnings of solar storms heading toward Earth. The National … Read more
In recent weeks, the sun has become so noisy that Earth has been repeatedly bombarded with radiation and particles emitted by bursts of solar plasma. But Earth isn’t the only planet affected by solar storms. At just 1.5 times Earth’s distance from the Sun, Mars is also being buffeted by the massive outpourings of particles … Read more
Many more people around the world than usual have recently been able to see the Northern and Southern Lights overhead with the naked eye. This unusual event was caused by a very strong solar storm, which affected the movement of the Earth’s magnetic field. The sun reaches its maximum point of activity in an eleven-year … Read more