Solar storm alert! Powerful G4-class geomagnetic activity expected on Earth after massive solar eruption on June 2
Source: Space.com
A
high-velocity solar storm
, triggered by the Sun's most powerful eruption of the year, is currently interacting with Earth's magnetic field. Space weather experts have warned about potential G4-class geomagnetic storm conditions—one of the more severe classifications expected to peak today, June 2. The origin of this solar unrest is a coronal mass ejection (CME) discharged on May 31 by a very active sunspot area AR4100. The phenomenon has quickly grown to become a serious space weather event, with close monitoring from researchers and agencies around the globe.
Powerful solar storm to impact Earth on June 2 with G4 geomagnetic activity
Both NASA and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have attested to the energetic magnitude of this eruption, declaring it a very strong CME. The unusual agreement between these preeminent space weather authorities emphasizes the gravity of the present geomagnetic perturbation. The CME from
sunspot AR4100
is presently directly affecting Earth's space environment, with real-time impacts already being visible in satellite systems and geomagnetic observations.
May 31 saw sunspot AR4100 produce an M8.2-class solar flare, short of achieving the X-class benchmark that represents the highest intensity level. While just shy of that benchmark, the unusually prolonged period and constant release of energy by the flare made it more impactful overall.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Dinheiro pra você organizar suas contas!
Banco BV
Saiba Mais
Undo
The solar flare continued for over three hours, giving the CME immense momentum and velocity. The material ejected from the sun, which moved at a speed of about 1,938 kilometers per second, was seen in a "halo" configuration by NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), showing a full-spectrum ejection heading toward Earth.
CME hits Earth on June 1, strongest geomagnetic impact expected today
The CME arrived at Earth's magnetosphere on June 1 and has been causing disruptions in geomagnetic conditions ever since. The most profound effects are due to occur today. If the internal magnetic field of the CME is oriented southward, as against Earth's, the storm may move into G4-class levels, causing several disruptions:
Widespread auroras
– Bright displays of the northern lights can be seen much farther south than normal, possibly extending as far as northern parts of the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Satellite and GPS interference
– Very high solar radiation and charged particle levels can interfere with satellite communications and perturb GPS measurements.
Power grid instability
– A geomagnetic storm with high intensity can cause additional currents in long-distance transmission lines, stressing or even damaging the power infrastructure.
Powerful solar storm offers rare insights
While it does not surpass the G5-class storm in May 2024, this storm is one of the strongest events in Solar Cycle 25. For scientists, it provides a valuable chance to learn how these events develop and influence Earth. For amateur astronomers, it's an unusual opportunity to view intense auroral activity.
Geomagnetic storms such as this one serve to remind us of the vulnerability of our planet to solar weather. Ranging from affecting satellites and communications to presenting danger to aviation and power grids, these storms emphasize the value of solar forecasting and preparedness. As the Sun moves toward its solar maximum—projected between 2025 and 2026—their occurrence and power may intensify. Ongoing observation and monitoring are paramount for ensuring our technological infrastructure and systems remain robust against such cosmic energies.
Northern lights may shine brightest tonight
As scientists track the storm's evolution, members of the public may be treated to one of the most thrilling displays of nature. For those in the northern latitudes, it could well be the ideal evening to gaze upwards—with cameras at the ready—to capture the eerie light of the auroras. And as ever during such space weather, it's always a good idea to keep GPS and communication equipment monitored, just in case the Sun gets carried away with its cosmic display a bit longer.
Also Read |
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovers earliest galaxy ever seen in the universe
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
James Webb Telescope Detects Frozen Water In Young Star System For The First Time
For decades, scientists have been fascinated by the mystery of how life originated on Earth and where our water came from. One long-standing theory suggests that water was present around our star, particularly in the outer reaches of the solar system in its early days. Recently, NASA researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope made a groundbreaking discovery that lends credence to this theory. They've found water ice in the debris disk that orbits HD 181327, a Sun-like star 155 light-years from Earth. According to Science Alert, the star system, just 23 million years old, is significantly younger than our 4.6-billion-year-old Solar System. This youthful system is still in its formative stages, with a protoplanetary disk surrounding the star that hasn't yet coalesced into planets. Chen Xie, an assistant research scientist at JHU and the study's lead author, said in a recent NASA press release, "Webb unambiguously detected not just water ice, but crystalline water ice, which is also found in locations like Saturn's rings and icy bodies in our Solar System's Kuiper Belt. The presence of water ice helps facilitate planet formation. Icy materials may also ultimately be 'delivered' to terrestrial planets that may form over a couple of hundred million years in systems like this." Using the James Webb Space Telescope's near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec), researchers detected water ice in the debris disk surrounding HD 181327. The water ice was predominantly found in the outer debris ring, making up over 20% of its mass, in the form of "dirty snowballs", a combination of ice and fine dust particles. The amount of water ice decreased closer to the star, with only 8% of the material consisting of ice halfway in from the disk's edge, and virtually none near the centre. This decrease is likely due to vaporisation from the star's ultraviolet radiation or potentially locked up in rocks and planetesimals. "When I was a graduate student 25 years ago, my advisor told me there should be ice in debris disks, but before Webb, we didn't have instruments sensitive enough to make these observations. What's most striking is that this data looks similar to the telescope's other recent observations of Kuiper Belt objects in our own Solar System," said Christine Chen, an associate astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and co-author on the study. Analysing these actively forming planetary systems will enhance our understanding of planet formation models and provide fresh insights into the origins of our own Solar System.
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
Asteroid bigger than the Empire State Building to fly by Earth this week: What if it strikes?
ESA Labels It 'Infrequent' Due to Size and Distance Origins and Discovery of Asteroid 2008 DG5 Live Events Potential Consequences of a Hypothetical Impact Recent Close Call: The Case of Asteroid 2024 YR4 FAQs What is asteroid 2008 DG5? When will asteroid 2008 DG5 pass by Earth? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a rare astronomical occurrence, an asteroid larger than the Golden Gate Bridge or the Empire State building is expected to make a safe pass by Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The asteroid, formally designated 424482 (2008 DG5), is estimated to measure between 310 to 690 metres (1,017 to 2,264 feet), placing it among the largest 3% of known asteroids, according to data from its massive size, the asteroid poses no threat to Earth. The object will pass at a distance of 2.17 million miles (3.49 million kilometres)—approximately nine times farther than the Moon, which orbits Earth at an average distance of 238,855 miles (384,400 km), as mentioned in a report by the flyby may seem distant in terrestrial terms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has termed the event 'infrequent' owing to the asteroid's scale and relatively close approach. According to international standards, any object over 492 feet (150 metres) in diameter passing within 4.6 million miles (7.4 million kilometres) is categorized as a 'potentially hazardous object.' Thus, 2008 DG5 falls within that classification, despite no danger of 2008 DG5 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, known for orbits that intersect Earth's path around the Sun. The object completes a full solar orbit roughly every 514 Earth days. It was first spotted in 2008 by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey, an Arizona-based observatory operating under NASA's Near-Earth Object Observation next anticipated close approach of this asteroid will not occur until 2032, marking this year's flyby as a rare chance for researchers and skywatchers to monitor such a sizable near-Earth object, as per the Forbes 2008 DG5 will pass harmlessly, astronomers often talk about the potential consequences of similar objects entering Earth's atm osphere. An asteroid of this size could cause widespread regional devastation, generating shockwaves, fires, or tsunamis depending on the impact draw a comparison, NASA cites the Tunguska event of 1908, caused by an asteroid only 130 feet (40 metres) wide, which devastated over 2,000 square kilometres of Siberian forest. At the extreme end, the Chicxulub impact, believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs, involved an asteroid estimated at 10 to 15 kilometres in this year, a separate asteroid known as 2024 YR4 made headlines after early predictions suggested a possible impact on December 22, 2032. The object, which is approximately 130 to 300 feet in diameter—about as tall as the Statue of Liberty—initially presented a 3.1% chance of collision, the highest ever recorded for an asteroid of that Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile first detected 2024 YR4 on December 27, 2024, triggering widespread concern. However, after further analysis, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies announced on February 24 that the probability of impact had dropped to near zero. Asteroid 2008 DG5 is a massive near-Earth object belonging to the Apollo group of asteroids, which are known for their Earth-crossing orbits. It measures between 310 to 690 meters (1,017 to 2,264 feet), placing it among the top 3% of the largest known asteroid is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Asteroid bigger than the Empire State Building to fly by Earth this week: What if it strikes?
ESA Labels It 'Infrequent' Due to Size and Distance Origins and Discovery of Asteroid 2008 DG5 Live Events Potential Consequences of a Hypothetical Impact Recent Close Call: The Case of Asteroid 2024 YR4 FAQs What is asteroid 2008 DG5? When will asteroid 2008 DG5 pass by Earth? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a rare astronomical occurrence, an asteroid larger than the Golden Gate Bridge or the Empire State building is expected to make a safe pass by Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The asteroid, formally designated 424482 (2008 DG5), is estimated to measure between 310 to 690 metres (1,017 to 2,264 feet), placing it among the largest 3% of known asteroids, according to data from its massive size, the asteroid poses no threat to Earth. The object will pass at a distance of 2.17 million miles (3.49 million kilometres)—approximately nine times farther than the Moon, which orbits Earth at an average distance of 238,855 miles (384,400 km), as mentioned in a report by the flyby may seem distant in terrestrial terms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has termed the event 'infrequent' owing to the asteroid's scale and relatively close approach. According to international standards, any object over 492 feet (150 metres) in diameter passing within 4.6 million miles (7.4 million kilometres) is categorized as a 'potentially hazardous object.' Thus, 2008 DG5 falls within that classification, despite no danger of 2008 DG5 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, known for orbits that intersect Earth's path around the Sun. The object completes a full solar orbit roughly every 514 Earth days. It was first spotted in 2008 by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey, an Arizona-based observatory operating under NASA's Near-Earth Object Observation next anticipated close approach of this asteroid will not occur until 2032, marking this year's flyby as a rare chance for researchers and skywatchers to monitor such a sizable near-Earth object, as per the Forbes 2008 DG5 will pass harmlessly, astronomers often talk about the potential consequences of similar objects entering Earth's atm osphere. An asteroid of this size could cause widespread regional devastation, generating shockwaves, fires, or tsunamis depending on the impact draw a comparison, NASA cites the Tunguska event of 1908, caused by an asteroid only 130 feet (40 metres) wide, which devastated over 2,000 square kilometres of Siberian forest. At the extreme end, the Chicxulub impact, believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs, involved an asteroid estimated at 10 to 15 kilometres in this year, a separate asteroid known as 2024 YR4 made headlines after early predictions suggested a possible impact on December 22, 2032. The object, which is approximately 130 to 300 feet in diameter—about as tall as the Statue of Liberty—initially presented a 3.1% chance of collision, the highest ever recorded for an asteroid of that Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile first detected 2024 YR4 on December 27, 2024, triggering widespread concern. However, after further analysis, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies announced on February 24 that the probability of impact had dropped to near zero. Asteroid 2008 DG5 is a massive near-Earth object belonging to the Apollo group of asteroids, which are known for their Earth-crossing orbits. It measures between 310 to 690 meters (1,017 to 2,264 feet), placing it among the top 3% of the largest known asteroid is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
