Latest news with #SolarCycle25
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
What Is Solar Maximum And How Will It Affect Earth in 2025?
The Solar Maximum is a period of heightened solar activity, which is marked by increased sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Roughly every 11 years, at the height of the solar cycle, the Sun's magnetic poles flip. This year is said to be the peak of Solar Cycle 25, bringing significant impacts on Earth and space. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) announced last year that the Sun has entered its solar maximum period, which could continue for another year. How Will It Affect The Earth? The solar maximum's effects on Earth's climate are lesser as compared to human-driven climate change, resulting in a rise in temperatures. However, there will be disruptions to technology and infrastructure because of solar activities. 1) There will be an increase in the sunspots, which are cooler and darker areas on the Sun's surface. The sunspots will appear during the Solar Maximum. "During solar maximum, the number of sunspots, and therefore, the amount of solar activity, increases," Jamie Favors, director, Space Weather Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said as quoted by NASA. "This increase in activity provides an exciting opportunity to learn about our closest star - but also causes real effects at Earth and throughout our solar system." 2) The increased solar activity means more radiation, which can damage satellite electronics, causing satellites to deorbit. "Solar Cycle 25 sunspot activity has slightly exceeded expectations," Lisa Upton, co-chair of the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel and lead scientist at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, said as quoted by NASA. "However, despite seeing a few large storms, they aren't larger than what we might expect during the maximum phase of the cycle." 3) Solar flares can release powerful bursts of radiation, disrupting satellite navigation, GPS systems and radio broadcasts. Powerful CMEs can induce geomagnetic storms, causing power outages and damage to electrical infrastructure. 4) Increased radiation levels also pose health risks to astronauts and passengers on high-altitude flights. "While the Sun has reached the solar maximum period, the month that solar activity peaks on the Sun will not be identified for months or years," Elsayed Talaat, director of space weather operations at NOAA, said last year in a press statement. 5) High solar activity means auroras will be visible amid increased frequency and intensity of Northern and Southern Lights due to charged particles from the Sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere. However, a report by mentioned that auroras are visible at any time in the solar cycle, even during solar minimum as the sun doesn't stop sending energetic particles just because its activity has reduced. Experts have advised people to monitor reliable sources like NASA and NOAA for updates on solar activity and space weather. They must shield sensitive electronics and infrastructure from solar radiation and design redundant systems.
India Today
09-06-2025
- Science
- India Today
523 crashes: Musk's Starlink satellites are falling from space due to Sun's fury
Elon Musk's SpaceX has been responsible for deploying one of the biggest satellite networks in the Low Earth Orbit as it ramps up the launch of new Starlinks every week in a bid to provide global broadband they have come at a big consequence. The company has lost over 500 satellites in five year, a new analysis satellites have faced the brunt of the Sun's fury during Solar Cycle 25 which has seen intense activity from the star in our Solar System with several big coronal mass ejections that have triggered geomagnetic storms on Earth and chaos for satellites in Elon Musk's Starlink has lost 523 satellites from 2020 to 2024, the years associated with the peak of the Solar solar cycle is an approximately 11-year cycle that tracks the rise and fall of activity on the Sun's surface, particularly the number of sunspots — dark, cooler areas caused by magnetic activity. This cycle affects the Sun's magnetic field, solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and the overall "space weather" that impacts Earth — including disruptions to satellites, GPS, and power the Sun is in maxima, a period during which the Sun is most active, sunspot counts are highest, and powerful solar flares and CMEs are more frequent.A team of scientists, led by space physicist Denny Oliveira of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center analysed the developments and wrote in a paper, "We clearly show that the intense solar activity of the current solar cycle has already had significant impacts on Starlink reentries."advertisementThe reason is the orbital decay rates (in km/day) of the satellites caused by increased drag forces from the solar radiation. It is worth mentioning that the biggest solar storm of the current cycle that hit Earth in 2024 led to instant crashing of 42 Starlink satellites that had been launched just days before into tracking the objects in the sky noted that in January 2025 alone, over 120 Starlink satellites re-entered Earth's atmosphere, and burned up creating spectacular the re-entries produce visually stunning fireballs, they also raise concerns about atmospheric pollution. The disintegration of satellites adds metallic vapours to the atmosphere.
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Millions Issued Geomagnetic Storm Warning
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 geomagnetic storm could impact millions of people "over New York to north Iowa to Washington state," weather authorities have warned. The National Weather Service extended a G3 warning on Monday, before downgrading it to a G2 warning on Tuesday, after weather data indicated that the storm would continue. Why It Matters Any extreme weather in these areas could have a huge impact on infrastructure and the environment, and geomagnetic storms in particular have the potential to affect power distribution networks and satellite signals. What To Know On Monday, the National Weather Service issued an extension to its geomagnetic weather warning. It was originally classified with a strength of G3, the third-highest level for a storm of this kind, before being downgraded to a G2 on Tuesday morning at time of writing, indicating the storm is "moderate." The service warned advised residents to be cautious of irregular behavior from electronic devices. "Some effects are possible to power grid, satellite ops, and GPS," the warning said. "Geomagnetic activity can vary considerably during storm progression with intermittent periods of escalation or weakening as the major disturbance in the solar wind continues. Monitor the SWPC webpage for additional information and Alerts for latest levels." The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are visible over the New York Skyline on October 11, 2024 in New York City. The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are visible over the New York Skyline on October 11, 2024 in New York City. Getty Images Geomagnetic storms, which are caused by bursts of solar wind that also create aurora borealis, can cause a variety of electrical and signal issues depending on how strong they are. At G2 strength, the National Weather Service predicts that the storm may damage transformers on electrical systems, and create "low-frequency radio navigation problems." The storm will also interfere with the flight paths of satellites in orbit by increasing drag. The same solar winds that create the storm also create the northern lights, which means over a dozen states might be able to see the phenomenon with the naked eye this week. What People Are Saying The National Weather Service's most recent warning update reads: "Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms. Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible. "Aurora may be visible at high latitudes in the northern tier of the U.S., such as northern Michigan and Maine." Astronomy professor Alex Gianninas of Connecticut College told Newsweek: "We are currently in the peak of the current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25, and so increased activity at the surface of the Sun is normal. This includes geomagnetic storms that cause the Sun to expel large quantities of charged particles. "If those are directed towards the Earth, then once they get here, the Earth's magnetic field channels them down towards both the North and South poles and when they hit the nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere produce the beautiful Aurora that we see." What Happens Next The abnormal weather is expected to pass by the end of the week as the solar wind dies down.
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
Northern Lights May Be Seen Tonight From Over 13 States—How You Can Watch
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. Stargazers are in for a treat as the northern lights will be visible from up to 13 states tonight, June 2. A geomagnetic storm, caused by coronal mass ejection (CME), is heading towards Earth, which can trigger the phenomenon of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Astronomer professor Alex Gianninas of Connecticut College, explained to Newsweek: "We are currently in the peak of the current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25, and so increased activity at the surface of the Sun is normal. This includes geomagnetic storms that cause the Sun to expel large quantities of charged particles. "If those are directed towards the Earth, then once they get here, the Earth's magnetic field channels them down towards both the North and South poles and when they hit the nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere produce the beautiful Aurora that we see." The northern lights—also known as the aurora borealis—form when particles from the solar wind excite atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere, causing them to glow. Aurorae manifest as curtains of light that trace the geomagnetic field lines and can vary in color depending on the species of atom being excited. The lights can appear in a variety of colors, from green and blue to purple, pink and red, depending on the type of gas that is hit, and where in the atmosphere that gas is located, according to NASA. A map showing an Aurora viewline for the night of June 2. A map showing an Aurora viewline for the night of June 2. SWPC NOAA Which states will be able to see the northern lights tonight? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, the aurora will be most intense across Canada and Alaska tonight. But, as Gianninas told Newsweek: "Besides Alaska, which is going to be the best place to potentially see the aurora tonight, the other states that are best positioned are the Northern Midwest states from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. "The northernmost parts of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine might also be able to witness the aurora." How to watch the Northern Lights in your state Aurora are not visible during daylight hours, and the best time to be observed from Earth is just after sunset or just before sunrise. It also does not need to be directly overhead, but can be viewed from as far as 621 miles away if conditions are right. Gianninas said: "Precise timing is hard to predict, but obviously it needs to be after sundown, when it's dark, as far away from bright city lights as possible, and Mother Nature also has to cooperate and it's got to be clear skies in order to see the aurora." Optimal Northern Lights Viewing Window by Region (Local Time) Sunset times on June 2 for the states with a chance of seeing the northern lights are as follows, in local time: Anchorage, Alaska: 23:22 Olympia, Washington: 21:00 Boise, Idaho: 21:20 Helena, Montana: 21:15 Pierre, South Dakota: 21:19 Bismarck, North Dakota: 21:30 Saint Paul, Minnesota: 20:53 Madison, Wisconsin: 20:30 Lansing, Michigan: 21:10 Albany, New York: 20:27 Montpelier, Vermont: 20:28 Concord, New Hampshire: 20:20 Augusta, Maine: 20:17 Image of stargazers viewing the northern lights in Edinburgh, UK, during a geomagnetic storm. Image of stargazers viewing the northern lights in Edinburgh, UK, during a geomagnetic night of June 3 also offers opportunities to see the Aurora, but it is projected to be less intense than the night before. As Gianninas told Newsweek: "With this increased activity, we have a reasonable expectation to see more auroral activity for many months to come." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about space? Let us know via science@
India Today
02-06-2025
- Climate
- India Today
Breathtaking auroras cover Earth as mega solar storm hits
A rare and vivid display of the northern lights, commonly known as the aurora borealis, lit up skies across several US states last night after a powerful geomagnetic storm struck Earth. Triggered by a direct hit from a massive coronal mass ejection (CME), the G4-class (severe) storm brought the aurora borealis much farther south than usual, creating stunning nighttime auroras were visible in states including New Mexico, California, Utah, Wyoming and even parts of Oklahoma. In Farmington, New Mexico, photographer Derick Wilson captured a hyper-lapse of the lights around 2:15 a.m. local time. "Visible aurora this far south is such a rare occurrence I knew to keep an eye on the solar wind data," Wilson told adding that he made sure to get far from city lights to capture the northern lights were also seen in San Diego and some residents in Tulsa, reported catching glimpses of the aurora. Meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, pink and red auroras were spotted lighting up the skies over Queenstown in Tasmania. The Milky Way galaxy is seen with the Aurora Australis. (Photo: AFP) These displays followed a CME that erupted during an M8.2-class solar flare on May 30 at 8:05 p.m. EDT. The solar material raced toward Earth at nearly 1,938 km/s (around 4.3 million mph), slamming into the planet's magnetic field early on June 1. The impact triggered a severe geomagnetic storm that allowed auroras to stretch deep into the storm hit, experts had predicted that the auroras might be visible across a wide swath of the northern United States, including Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, along with most of Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa and New York. Forecasts also suggested potential sightings in parts of Oregon, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the geomagnetic storm activity expected to continue, many of these areas may still have a chance to witness the lights again tonight if skies remain clear. Experts have already dubbed it one of the biggest space weather events of Solar Cycle 25. (Photo: AFP) Coronal mass ejections release electrically charged atoms, or ions, into space. When these ions reach Earth, they can disturb the planet's magnetosphere, causing a geomagnetic storm. During these disturbances, the ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light - seen as the Northern Hemisphere, this light is known as the aurora borealis; in the Southern Hemisphere, it is called the aurora storms are measured on a G-scale from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), and last night's G4 event allowed rare and far-reaching views of this natural light Watch
