Latest news with #Earth-facing
News18
3 days ago
- Science
- News18
Powerful Solar Flare Sparks Geomagnetic Storms, Auroras Likely In Southern Skies
Positioned near the centre of the Earth-facing solar disc, this flare was accompanied by a major, asymmetrical full halo coronal mass ejection (CME). Earth was hit by a powerful geomagnetic storm on Sunday, June 1, with a speed of upwards of 1000 km/sec later. According to Space Weather Live, sunspot region 4100 produced a beautiful, long-duration M8.2-class solar flare, which peaked at 05:35 IST today (00:05 UTC). Located near the center of the Earth-facing solar disk, this flare is particularly significant. The eruption is associated with a Type II radio emission, indicating a coronal mass ejection (CME) was launched and current coronagraph imagery suggests it likely has an Earth-directed component. Positioned near the centre of the Earth-facing solar disc, this flare was accompanied by a major, asymmetrical full halo coronal mass ejection (CME), clearly visible in SOHO/LASCO imagery. This CME is all but certain to have an Earth-directed component, setting the stage for possible space weather impacts, including auroras, radio disturbances, and power grid fluctuations in higher latitudes. According to Space Weather Live, a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm was observed today, 1 June 2025, as the Kp index reached Level 5 — the threshold for a G1 storm — at 09:24 UTC, which is 14:54 IST. advetisement There is a slight possibility of auroral activity becoming visible in mid-latitude regions of the Southern Hemisphere, particularly around Hobart, Australia, and Invercargill, New Zealand, reported Space Live Weather. This potential is driven by highly active solar wind conditions, with the solar wind speed currently measured at an exceptionally high 1,023 km/sec. Additionally, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) strength is elevated at 25.55 nT. However, the IMF is currently pointing northward (6.11 nT), which typically reduces the chance of strong geomagnetic activity since a southward IMF is more favourable for coupling with Earth's magnetic field. While auroral visibility remains limited for now, even a brief southward shift in the IMF could quickly increase activity, making it worth monitoring if you're located in or near these regions. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 01, 2025, 16:08 IST
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
Nasa warns of potential blackouts across Earth caused by solar flare eruptions
Nasa has issued a warning that extreme space weather, including solar storms can be expected to affect Earth over the next few weeks. The solar flares may even cause blackouts and auroras on Earth, as the Sun's most active region is to rotate towards the planet. Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory recently captured the most powerful solar eruption of the year so far, which came from from a region of the Sun that had newly emerged. This previous solar flare caused radio blackouts across parts of the Middle East, and was classed in the highest possible category for a solar flare- X2.7. During this blackout, radio signals were disrupted for around 10 minutes, according to space weather forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US. Nasa has stated that ongoing flares and eruptions from this powerful solar region could continue to impact signals on Earth. Experts from the space organisation explained that these huge solar flares could disrupt the planet's "radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts", reports The Independent. Some of this extreme space weather can be explained by the current phase the Sun is travelling through in its 11-year activity cycle. At the moment, the Sun is currently at the peak of this years-long cycle, which is known as its solar maximum period. During this time, the star's magnetic poles flip, which causes the Sun to transition to a more active state than during the rest of its cycle. Auroras such as the Northern Lights are commonly accompanied by this period of high solar activity. These auroras come from coronal mass ejections, otherwise known as CMEs, which occur when charged solar particles pass through the Earth's atmosphere, making colourful displays in the night sky. The Met Office's most recent space weather forecast explained that this extremely active region of the Sun is currently rotating to face Earth, which will lead to higher levels of solar activity. Their space weather forecast said: 'There are currently up to five sunspot regions on the facing side of the Sun, with a new, apparently magnetically unipolar region rotating into view over the southeastern solar horizon." The Met Office shared a summary of the past 24 hours of solar activity on Monday, May 19, which described current solar levels as "moderate with one brief moderate class flare observed from the northeast limb. "It remains uncertain if there is a sunspot region associated with this eruption. There are five sunspot region on the Earth-facing disc, however these are mostly small, simple and with little sign of growth. "The most notable is in the north-centre, however this is overall much simpler and less active than a few days ago. "No clear Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been observed in available imagery, however a slow but large and complex eruption off the north disc was visible. This is most likely missing above and west (ahead of) Earth, but remains under assessment for any Earth-directed component." At the moment, it's not extremely likely that the Northern Lights will be spotted from the UK, but as we continue through this phase of high solar activity, that may soon change.
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
'Bird Wing' Solar Eruption Headed Toward Earth
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A massive solar filament over 600,000 miles long erupted from the sun's northern hemisphere earlier this week, in a dramatic event dubbed a 'bird wing' eruption by scientists. Why It Matters This filament, more than twice the distance between Earth and the moon, was captured by satellites peeling away from the sun in "wings" 75 times larger than Earth. Specialists indicated that any impact would likely increase auroral activity and could trigger a minor geomagnetic storm. An image of a solar prominence, also know as a solar filament. An image of a solar prominence, also know as a solar To Know The eruption occurred late on Monday into Tuesday, according to Most solar material was headed away from Earth, but scientists expressed concerns about a glancing blow, according to the Daily Mail. If this happens, the most likely results would be enhanced auroral displays, particularly at high latitudes and a minor geomagnetic disturbance. According to NASA, a solar filament is a vast, luminous structure that projects outward from the Sun's surface. These features are rooted in the photosphere and stretch outward into the Sun's hot outer atmosphere, known as the corona. Prominences typically take about a day to form, and those that remain stable can endure in the corona for several months, arching hundreds of thousands of miles into space. Jake Foster, astronomer at the U.K.'s Royal Observatory Greenwich, told the Mail that eruptions of this type can cause geomagnetic storms, potentially blocking out radio communications and disrupting satellite navigation in some areas. Sarah Matthews, a professor of solar physics with the University College London's Mullard Space Science Lab told Newsweek that some effects from the eruption would be possible on Friday. Matthews said that while most of the event was directed northward, the lower flank did make its way into the Earth-Sun line. "Based on the current forecasts, it looks like at most a minor geomagnetic storm, with an increased chance of high latitude aurora, but probably not making it mid latitudes." The Earth-facing side of our Sun has been taking a bit of a nap recently, but finally did something noteworthy! Check out this gorgeous "bird wing" filament eruption today. Thus far, it looks like it will mostly miss us, but we could get the wake of the structure passing by Earth… — Dr. Tamitha Skov (@TamithaSkov) May 13, 2025 What People Are Saying Krista Hammond, a space weather expert at the U.K.'s Met Office told Newsweek: "On Tuesday we observed an eruption of plasma from the Sun which a very common event at this point in the solar cycle. Because of where this left the Sun, the vast majority of the material will miss Earth. This means that even if we do receive a glancing blow from the eruption, it will be weak—a minor geomagnetic storm at most—which will not have any significant impacts." Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov said on X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday: "The Earth-facing side of our Sun has been taking a bit of a nap recently, but finally did something noteworthy! Check out this gorgeous "bird wing" filament eruption today. Thus far, it looks like it will mostly miss us, but we could get the wake of the structure passing by Earth sometime May 16." What Happens Next "We've seen some more activity from a sunspot region that recently rotated on to the front side of the disk, but because that's not yet well connected to us it's not causing too much in the way of disturbance at the moment," Matthews said. "That may change in the coming days as it rotates further towards the West limb of the sun though."
Hans India
15-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
NASA Finally Explains Why the Moon's Far Side Is So Different From Its Near Side
The sharp difference between the Moon's two faces—the enigmatic far side, sometimes known as the "dark side," and the well-known near side, which is constantly facing Earth—has baffled scientists for decades. Finally, we have answers because of NASA's innovative research. A recent study that was published in Nature explains the stark differences between these two hemispheres of the Moon using data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission. Earth's gravitational pull is a major factor in the near side's substantially warmer and more geologically active interior compared to the far side, according to the findings. Gravity Hints Under the Surface Researchers were able to develop a high-resolution model that depicts the Moon's minor deformation under Earth's gravity by measuring minute changes in the Moon's gravitational field. This flexing, often referred to as tidal deformation, provides information about the internal structure of the Moon. "There is something fundamentally different about the internal structure of the Moon's near side compared to its far side," stated Ryan Park, leader of NASA's Solar System Dynamics Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, "because we found that the Moon's near side is flexing more than the far side." "We were shocked by the outcome when we initially examined the data and didn't think it was real. Therefore, we performed the computations numerous times to confirm the results. This is a total of ten years of labour. The Reasons Behind the Hotter Side The mantle of the near side is thought to be 100–200 degrees Celsius warmer than that of the far side, according to the study. The abundance of radioactive materials like thorium and titanium on the Earth-facing side of the Moon is probably the cause of this heat differential. Ancient volcanic activity on the near side, which produced the vast, black plains known as Mare, was fuelled in part by this tempe Old Volcanism Sculpted the Moon Once the near side was changed by intensive volcanism, heat-producing materials were also transported deeper into the Moon's interior, leaving behind the gravitational fingerprints GRAIL found. Long-held beliefs that early volcanic activity created the Moon's striking asymmetry and left behind a geological record that is still discernible and quantifiable now are supported by these imbalance. The further side, however, is still rocky, extensively cratered, and has a calmer geology. An Insight into Planetary Science from the Moon From regulating ocean tides to stabilising our planet's spin, the Moon is essential to life on Earth in addition to its scientific significance. The Moon's interior composition and past history are still mostly unknown, despite the fact that human and robotic missions have learnt a great deal about its surface. Park stated that this research advances our knowledge of how the Moon and other planetary bodies changed over billions of years.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's discovery of Moon rust is stranger than science fiction
The Moon is the closest celestial body to Earth and holds many mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Despite the centuries of research projects, many of its secrets remain locked away, especially when it comes to its composition, presence of water and history. In recent years, many space missions to the moon have given rise to new discoveries that are shedding light on the Moon's past and the difficulties of its surface. Similarly, a recent discovery of rust on the surface of the Moon has shocked the scientists because it is next to impossible, given the Moon's lack of atmosphere and water. While the Moon is traditionally considered a lifeless, airless world, new research suggests that, despite these harsh conditions, it might still be home to a process known as oxidation, which creates rust. A recent study published in Science Advances by researchers from the University of Hawaii and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has brought to light the presence of hematite , a form of rust on the Moon's surface. This has confused researchers as rust typically requires oxygen and water to form, two substances that the Moon is not known to have in abundance. The research focuses on data gathered by the Indian Space Research Organization's Chandrayaan-1 orbiter . Rust was discovered on Moons surface Researchers had long assumed that the Moon's lack of atmosphere meant it couldn't support the chemical reaction necessary for rust to form. However, detailed analysis of data from the Chandrayaan-1 orbiter's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) instrument revealed surprising signs of hematite. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo 'I was surprised to find a close match with the spectral signature of hematite,' said Shuai Li, lead author of the study from the University of Hawaii. Hematite is an iron oxide, commonly known as rust, which forms when iron interacts with both oxygen and water. The discovery suggests that, despite the Moon's airless environment, some form of rust is a surprise for scientists. What is the reason behind rusting on the Moon? Apart from that, the Moon's surface is bombarded by hydrogen from the solar wind, which typically prevents oxidation. 'It's very puzzling,' said Shuai Li, lead author of the study. However, researchers turned to an unlikely source for the oxygen, which is the Earth. Our planet's magnetic field extends into space, creating a magnetotail that carries oxygen to the Moon. This explains why more hematite was found on the Earth-facing side of the Moon. Moreover, the Moon's temperature extremes and occasional shielding from the solar wind during full Moon phases allow oxidation to occur. Adding to the mystery, water, while scarce on the Moon, may come from fast-moving dust particles that bombard the surface, potentially mixing with iron-rich minerals and helping in the rusting process. Abigail Fraeman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory says, "Little bits of water and the impact of dust particles are allowing iron in these bodies to rust. "
