Latest news with #geomagneticstorms
Forbes
01-08-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Update: These States Could See Aurora Borealis Friday
Northern residents of seven continental states may be able to view the northern lights Friday night despite no significant predictions for geomagnetic storms, according to the latest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast. The northern lights in Central Minnesota on Aug. 11, 2024. Anadolu via Getty Images NOAA forecast a Kp index of two on a scale of nine for Friday, suggesting the northern lights might be more visible farther from the poles and into the northern United States. Friday will give Americans the best chance to see the lights of the next three days, with the likelihood of geomagnetic activity and storms dropping daily through Sunday. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here : The northern lights will have the best chance of being seen throughout Canada and Alaska but NOAA's predicted 'view line' dips into Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and upper Michigan. (See map below.) Usually from a high vantage point, away from light pollution, while facing north sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to NOAA. The lights will be most visible this weekend at around 3 a.m. Saturday, according to NOAA's kp index forecast. What's The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights? Flash on smartphones should be turned off and night mode enabled, NOAA suggests, and using a tripod can help to stabilize the image. With a separate camera, photography experts told National Geographic it's best to use a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting. Key Background Also known as the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights appear as a colorful phenomena in the night sky when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth's atmosphere. The Northern Lights are most visible near the Arctic Circle because Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles, but they can stretch far beyond their usual range during times of high solar activity. The lights' bright colors are determined by the chemical composition of the atmosphere. Further Reading Forbes Northern Lights Displays Hit A 500-Year Peak In 2024—Here's Where You Could Catch Aurora Borealis In 2025 By Ty Roush
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Spacecraft equipped with a solar sail could deliver earlier warnings of space weather threats to Earth's technologies
The burgeoning space industry and the technologies society increasingly relies on – electric grids, aviation and telecommunications – are all vulnerable to the same threat: space weather. Space weather encompasses any variations in the space environment between the Sun and Earth. One common type of space weather event is called an interplanetary coronal mass ejection. These ejections are bundles of magnetic fields and particles that originate from the Sun. They can travel at speeds up to 1,242 miles per second (2,000 kilometers per second) and may cause geomagnetic storms. They create beautiful aurora displays – like the northern lights you can sometimes see in the skies – but can also disrupt satellite operations, shut down the electric grid and expose astronauts aboard future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars to lethal doses of radiation. I'm a heliophysicist and space weather expert, and my team is leading the development of a next-generation satellite constellation called SWIFT, which is designed to predict potentially dangerous space weather events in advance. Our goal is to forecast extreme space weather more accurately and earlier. Commercial interests now make up a big part of space exploration, focusing on space tourism, building satellite networks, and working toward extracting resources from the Moon and nearby asteroids. Space is also a critical domain for military operations. Satellites provide essential capabilities for military communication, surveillance, navigation and intelligence. As countries such as the U.S. grow to depend on infrastructure in space, extreme space weather events pose a greater threat. Today, space weather threatens up to US$2.7 trillion in assets globally. In September 1859, the most powerful recorded space weather event, known as the Carrington event, caused fires in North America and Europe by supercharging telegraph lines. In August 1972, another Carrington-like event nearly struck the astronauts orbiting the Moon. The radiation dose could have been fatal. More recently, in February 2022, SpaceX lost 39 of its 49 newly launched Starlink satellites because of a moderate space weather event. Space weather services heavily rely on satellites that monitor the solar wind, which is made up of magnetic field lines and particles coming from the Sun, and communicate their observations back to Earth. Scientists can then compare those observations with historical records to predict space weather and explore how the Earth may respond to the observed changes in the solar wind. Earth's magnetic field naturally protects living things and Earth-orbiting satellites from most adverse effects of space weather. However, extreme space weather events may compress – or in some cases, peel back – the Earth's magnetic shield. This process allows solar wind particles to make it into our protected environment – the magnetosphere – exposing satellites and astronauts onboard space stations to harsh conditions. Most satellites that continuously monitor Earth-bound space weather orbit relatively close to the planet. Some satellites are positioned in low Earth orbit, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) above Earth's surface, while others are in geosynchronous orbit, approximately 25,000 miles (40,000 km) away. At these distances, the satellites remain within Earth's protective magnetic shield and can reliably measure the planet's response to space weather conditions. However, to more directly study incoming solar wind, researchers use additional satellites located farther upstream – hundreds of thousands of miles from Earth. The U.S., the European Space Agency and India all operate space weather monitoring satellites positioned around the L1 Lagrange point – nearly 900,000 miles (1,450,000 km) from Earth – where the gravitational forces of the Sun and Earth balance. From this vantage point, space weather monitors can provide up to 40 minutes of advance warning for incoming solar events. Increasing the warning time beyond 40 minutes – the current warning time – would help satellite operators, electric grid planners, flight directors, astronauts and Space Force officers better prepare for extreme space weather events. For instance, during geomagnetic storms, the atmosphere heats up and expands, increasing drag on satellites in low Earth orbit. With enough advance warning, operators can update their drag calculations to prevent satellites from descending and burning up during these events. With the updated drag calculations, satellite operators could use the satellites' propulsion systems to maneuver them higher up in orbit. Airlines could change their routes to avoid exposing passengers and staff to high radiation doses during geomagnetic storms. And future astronauts on the way to or working on the Moon or Mars, which lack protection from these particles, could be alerted in advance to take cover. Aurora lovers would also appreciate having more time to get to their favorite viewing destinations. My team and I have been developing a new space weather satellite constellation, named the Space Weather Investigation Frontier. SWIFT will, for the first time, place a space weather monitor beyond the L1 point, at 1.3 million miles (2.1 million kilometers) from Earth. This distance would allow scientists to inform decision-makers of any Earth-bound space weather events up to nearly 60 minutes before arrival. Satellites with traditional chemical and electric propulsion systems cannot maintain an orbit at that location – farther from Earth and closer to the Sun – for long. This is because they would need to continuously burn fuel to counteract the Sun's gravitational pull. To address this issue, our team has spent decades designing and developing a new propulsion system. Our solution is designed to affordably reach a distance that is closer to the Sun than the traditional L1 point, and to operate there reliably for more than a decade by harnessing an abundant and reliable resource – sunlight. SWIFT would use a fuelless propulsion system called a solar sail to reach its orbit. A solar sail is a hair-thin reflective surface – simulating a very thin mirror – that spans about a third of a football field. It balances the force of light particles coming from the Sun, which pushes it away, with the Sun's gravity, which pulls it inward. While a sailboat harnesses the lift created by wind flowing over its curved sails to move across water, a solar sail uses the momentum of photons from sunlight, reflected off its large, shiny sail, to propel a spacecraft through space. Both the sailboat and solar sail exploit the transfer of energy from their respective environments to drive motion without relying on traditional propellants. A solar sail could enable SWIFT to enter an otherwise unstable sub-L1 orbit without the risk of running out of fuel. NASA successfully launched its first solar sail in 2010. This in-space demonstration, named NanoSail-D2, featured a 107-square-foot (10 m2 ) sail and was placed in low Earth orbit. That same year, the Japanese Space Agency launched a larger solar sail mission, IKAROS, which deployed a 2,110 ft2 (196 m2 ) sail in the solar wind and successfully orbited Venus. The Planetary Society and NASA followed up by launching two sails in low Earth orbit: LightSail, with an area of 344 ft2 (32 m2 ), and the advanced composite solar sail system, with an area of 860 ft2 (80 m2 ). The SWIFT team's solar sail demonstration mission, Solar Cruiser, will be equipped with a much larger sail – it will have area of 17,793 ft2 (1,653 m2 ) and launch as early as 2029. We successfully deployed a quadrant of the sail on Earth early last year. To transport it to space, the team will meticulously fold and tightly pack the sail inside a small canister. The biggest challenge to overcome will be deploying the sail once in space and using it to guide the satellite along its orbital path. If successful, Solar Cruiser will pave the way for SWIFT's constellation of four satellites. The constellation would include one satellite equipped with sail propulsion, set to be placed in an orbit beyond L1, and three smaller satellites with chemical propulsion in orbit at the L1 Lagrange point. The satellites will be indefinitely parked at and beyond L1, collecting data in the solar wind without interruption. Each of the four satellites can observe the solar wind from different locations, helping scientists better predict how it may evolve before reaching Earth. As modern life depends more on space infrastructure, continuing to invest in space weather prediction can protect both space- and ground-based technologies. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, University of Michigan Read more: Solar storms can destroy satellites with ease – a space weather expert explains the science Colliding plasma ejections from the Sun generate huge geomagnetic storms − studying them will help scientists monitor future space weather Lightning strikes link weather on Earth and weather in space Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti receives funding from NASA. He is the Principal Investigator of Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT).
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Alert: Some States May See Aurora Borealis Thursday
An 'isolated' period of geomagnetic storms is likely to disrupt Earth's magnetic field late Thursday, as several states could have a chance to see the northern lights, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. An 'isolated' period of 'moderate' geomagnetic storms is expected through early Friday, forecasters ... More said. Getty Images NOAA forecast a Kp index of four on a scale of nine for Thursday night, indicating the northern lights will be more active away from the poles and be 'quite pleasing to look at' for those in the right areas. Some 'minor' geomagnetic storms occurred early Thursday, and there's a chance for an 'isolated' and 'moderate' storming period late Thursday and early Friday because of the effects of a colder, less dense spot on the sun's surface, NOAA said. Auroral activity will likely be calmer Friday and Saturday, according to NOAA's three-day forecast, with a maximum Kp index of about three forecast for both days. Alaska is forecast with a higher chance of seeing the northern lights on Thursday once the sun sets in the state. A lesser chance is forecast across northern Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota and Upper Michigan, while a lower, yet possible likelihood is expected in parts of Washington, northern Idaho, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Maine. (See map below.) Thursday's view line. NOAA The best time to see the northern lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to NOAA, which recommends traveling north to a high vantage point away from light pollution. If weather conditions are optimal, the aurora borealis could be visible even if geomagnetic activity is calmer, NOAA said. What's The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights? A photography expert told National Geographic it's best to use a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or lower and a tripod to stabilize the image. With a smartphone, NOAA recommends enabling night mode and disabling flash. Key Background The northern lights have been more visible over the last year after activity on the sun's surface reached a 'solar maximum.' This peak, occurring throughout the sun's 11-year cycle, marks an increase in solar events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The latest 'solar maximum' surpassed projections by NOAA and NASA, which suggested the northern lights displays hit a 500-year peak. Stronger auroral displays will likely continue through early 2026 as the 'solar maximum' is maintained, the agencies said. Forbes Northern Lights Displays Hit A 500-Year Peak In 2024—Here's Where You Could Catch Aurora Borealis In 2025 By Ty Roush
Fast Company
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Fast Company
Aurora borealis forecast: Northern lights may be visible in 15 states tonight. Here's the best time to see them
If you missed the northern lights, or aurora borealis, earlier this month, you may have a second chance tonight, Wednesday, June 25, when they may be visible in some 15 U.S. states. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts the next possibility for viewing the northern lights is Wednesday night, with best viewing from Alaska to South Dakota. The agency's three-day forecast is predicting G1 to G2 geomagnetic storms, which are considered minor to moderate, on a scale of G1 to G5. A stream of solar wind from a coronal hole on the sun, is likely to create auroras, or swaths of blue, green, and purple in the sky, when it reaches Earth. This year's increased solar activity is likely the result of an 11-year sun cycle peaking through October. Where and when will the northern lights be visible? According to this map from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, a total of 15 are in the line of view for the auroras, with Alaska and the northernmost states expected to have the best visibility on Wednesday, June 25. They are: Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Michigan, Maine, New York, Vermont, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Wyoming, South Dakota, northern Idaho, Iowa, and Washington. However, since we just experienced the summer solstice, which brings the longest days of the year, and therefore, the shortest nights, viewing may be hampered with less hours of night sky in some areas. The aurora borealis is best observed just after sunset or just before sunrise. predicts activity will remain high through 2025 and 2026. You can track the aurora on NOAA's page, where the agency is providing updates.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Alert: Aurora Borealis Could Appear In These States Tuesday
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects several states in the northern U.S. to have an opportunity to see the northern lights Tuesday night as geomagnetic storms will likely disrupt Earth's magnetic field. Some 'minor' to 'moderate' geomagnetic storms are expected through Thursday, forecasters said. Image Rene Rossignaud/AP NOAA forecasts a Kp index of five on a scale of nine for Tuesday night, suggesting the northern lights could be brighter and more active while moving farther from the poles. Some 'minor' to 'moderate' geomagnetic storms are projected through the night and into early Wednesday morning, following the 'recurrent, negative polarity' of colder, less dense spots on the sun's surface, NOAA said. Other 'minor' geomagnetic storms are expected Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with a maximum Kp index of five forecast, according to NOAA's three-day forecast. The aurora borealis has the highest likelihood of being visible across Canada, and while Alaska is also forecast with a high chance of visibility, the state won't be dark enough during peak viewing hours. A minimal opportunity marked by a 'view line' is forecast through northern Iowa and other northern states, suggesting there's a low, but potential, chance in parts of Wyoming, South Dakota, northern New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. A still relatively low, yet higher, chance is expected in areas of Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. (See map below.) Tuesday's view line. NOAA NOAA recommends traveling to a high vantage point away from light pollution. The agency said the northern lights are best seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, and if in the right area with optimal weather conditions, the aurora borealis could be visible even with lower geomagnetic activity, including a Kp index of three or four. What's The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights? An expert writing for National Geographic recommended a regular camera with a wide-angle lens and an aperture or F-stop of four or lower, while other settings like ISO and shutter speed will likely need to be adjusted depending on the aurora's strength. With a smartphone, NOAA said it's best to use a tripod to stabilize the image long enough to capture the northern lights displays. The agency also recommended disabling flash and enabling night mode. Key Background The northern lights, while visible throughout the year, are seen more often between late September and March when nights are longer, experts said. Solar events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections produce northern lights displays, as electrons from these events collide with oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere. An increase in solar activity was achieved in October 2024, NOAA and NASA said, as the sun reached the 'solar maximum' period of its 11-year cycle. This peak is expected to persist into early 2026, the agencies noted. Forbes Northern Lights Displays Hit A 500-Year Peak In 2024—Here's Where You Could Catch Aurora Borealis In 2025 By Ty Roush
