Topic: solar activity

  • NASA: Solar Activity Is Increasing Faster Than Predicted

    NASA: Solar Activity Is Increasing Faster Than Predicted

    NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has observed a faster-than-expected increase in solar activity, reversing a previous declining trend. A NASA-led study confirms this unexpected turnaround, with solar wind and magnetic field measurements rising since a 2008 low. Enhanced monitoring from upcoming ...

    Read More »
  • Solar Flare Delays Jeff Bezos' New Glenn Rocket Launch

    Solar Flare Delays Jeff Bezos' New Glenn Rocket Launch

    Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launch was postponed due to a powerful solar storm, which could interfere with satellite functions and prompted NASA to delay sending its ESCAPADE probes to Mars. NASA, as the mission customer, decided to wait for improved space weather to protect the spacecraft's s...

    Read More »
  • How to Photograph the Northern Lights in St. Louis This Week

    How to Photograph the Northern Lights in St. Louis This Week

    Residents of Missouri and Illinois can witness the aurora borealis this week due to intense geomagnetic storms, which occur when solar particles interact with Earth's magnetic field, creating vibrant colors but potentially disrupting technology. The northern lights, visible in countryside areas a...

    Read More »
  • Cosmic Rays From Another Galaxy Disrupt Air Travel

    Cosmic Rays From Another Galaxy Disrupt Air Travel

    A JetBlue flight experienced a sudden descent likely due to a "bit flip," where a cosmic ray corrupted data in the aircraft's flight computer, triggering an uncommanded maneuver. Cosmic rays are a constant natural phenomenon, but Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere provide strong protection, ma...

    Read More »