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Study Finds Coronal Loop Flickers Could Predict Solar Flares Hours in Advance
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has revealed a potential breakthrough in predicting solar flares. Scientists observed brightness fluctuations in coronal loops—plasma structures in the Sun's atmosphere—that intensify hours before solar flares occur. This discovery, with a prediction accuracy of 60–80%, may provide 2–6 hours of advance warn...
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ESA Uses Solar Orbiter to Turn Solar Flares into Sound, Offering New Insights
The European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with NASA, has used data from the Solar Orbiter mission to convert solar flares into audible sound. By mapping solar flare data into blue circles and pairing them with tones, a new way to experience solar activity has been created. This process is linked to the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, with curr...
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Solar Missions in 2025: Heliophysics Projects and Spacecrafts That Will Study the Sun
The study of the sun, its activity, and effects across the solar system will advance in 2025. With Solar Cycle 25 peaking, six NASA missions planned, and new research priorities outlined, scientists are poised to address long-standing questions about solar dynamics and their impacts. Missions such as IMAP, ESCAPADE, and PUNCH will investigate solar...
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Massive Solar Flare Closes 2024 With Radio Blackouts and Auroral Possibilities
An X1.1-class solar flare on December 29, 2024, caused strong radio blackouts on Earth, marking another significant event in the increasingly active Solar Cycle 25. Detected by NOAA's GOES-16 satellite, the eruption raises questions about a potential coronal mass ejection, which could amplify auroras during New Year celebrations. While impactful, t...
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Solar Cycle 25: How the Sun’s Peak Activity Will Impact Earth in 2025
Solar Cycle 25 continues with high activity levels in 2025. Increased solar flares and geomagnetic storms are anticipated, with risks to satellite systems and power grids. Widespread auroras could also light up low-latitude skies. Partial solar eclipses are scheduled for March and September in select regions. Observations indicate strong solar phen...
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Top 10 Solar Flares of 2024: The Most Powerful Solar Events and Their Impact
The Sun experienced significant solar activity in 2024, with over 50 X-class solar flares recorded. These powerful flares, originating from active regions like AR 13664, were accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that caused geomagnetic storms and spectacular auroras across the globe. Among the strongest flares was the X9.0 recorded on Octob...
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Parker Solar Probe to Break Records with Historic Sun Flyby on December 24
NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set for a record-breaking approach to the sun on December 24, travelling at 430,000 mph and reaching within 3.8 million miles of the surface. The spacecraft, equipped with advanced heat shields, will navigate solar plasma plumes and potentially an active eruption during this phase of heightened solar activity. This flyb...
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X-Class Solar Flare From Sunspot 3912 Causes Radio Blackouts in Southern Africa
A powerful X-class solar flare erupted from sunspot region 3912 on December 8, disrupting high-frequency radio communications in southern Africa. The flare, accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), ionised Earth’s upper atmosphere, absorbing radio signals and causing blackouts in areas exposed to peak solar activity. Experts predict the CME ...
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Solar 'Battle Zone' Could be Even Worse Than Solar Maximum, Experts Warn
Experts warn that the sun's next phase, the "battle zone," could result in increased geomagnetic activity, lasting until 2028. This period could bring heightened solar flares and coronal holes, which may cause disruptions to satellites in low-Earth orbit. Space weather experts, including Scott McIntosh from Lynker Space, have noted that this phase ...
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Powerful Solar Flare Disrupts Radio Signals And Poses Global Infrastructure Risks
A powerful X-class solar flare erupted, causing shortwave radio blackouts over the Atlantic, South America, and Africa.
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Sun Erupts with X2.3 Solar Flare, Causes Radio Blackouts
On November 6, 2024, sunspot AR 3883 unleashed a powerful X2.3 solar flare, causing radio blackouts in parts of South America and Africa. The flare, classified as a strong solar event, disrupted high-frequency radio signals. Scientists are awaiting data from NASA’s SOHO spacecraft to assess the potential impact of a coronal mass ejection (CME) on...
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Solar Maximum Explained: Current Status and Future Expectations in 2024
Solar maximum is the peak of solar activity in an approximately 11-year cycle. Currently, we are experiencing the solar maximum of Solar Cycle 25, which could last until 2026. This phase is characterized by an increase in sunspots and solar flares, impacting Earth through geomagnetic storms that can disrupt satellites, power grids, and communicatio...
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Severe Solar Storm Warning: NOAA Predicts Auroras Across US, Possible Power Grid Impact
NOAA has issued a warning for a severe solar storm expected to hit Earth on October 10-11, 2024. This storm, classified as G4, is caused by a coronal mass ejection from the sun, travelling at nearly 2.9 million miles per hour. It has the potential to disrupt power grids, radio communications, and satellites. Additionally, the storm could enhance au...
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A Geomagnetic Storm Has Hit Earth. Here's What It Is And What Causes Them
A geomagnetic storm lit up the night sky in parts of the US during the first weekend in October. South Africas National Space Agency (Sansa) told reporters that the storm had originated from a solar flare "that erupted from sunspot 3842 on October 3
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The Sun Fires Off Another High Intensity X Flare, Triggers Radio Blackouts
On October 7, 2024, sunspot AR 3842 released another powerful X2.1 solar flare, causing significant radio blackouts across North and South America, as well as over the Pacific Ocean. This is the second major flare from AR 3842 after it previously unleashed the most intense solar flare in seven years. Scientists from NOAA are currently analysing dat...
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Study Finds Coronal Loop Flickers Could Predict Solar Flares Hours in Advance
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has revealed a potential breakthrough in predicting solar flares. Scientists observed brightness fluctuations in coronal loops—plasma structures in the Sun's atmosphere—that intensify hours before solar flares occur. This discovery, with a prediction accuracy of 60–80%, may provide 2–6 hours of advance warn...
-
ESA Uses Solar Orbiter to Turn Solar Flares into Sound, Offering New Insights
The European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with NASA, has used data from the Solar Orbiter mission to convert solar flares into audible sound. By mapping solar flare data into blue circles and pairing them with tones, a new way to experience solar activity has been created. This process is linked to the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, with curr...
-
Solar Missions in 2025: Heliophysics Projects and Spacecrafts That Will Study the Sun
The study of the sun, its activity, and effects across the solar system will advance in 2025. With Solar Cycle 25 peaking, six NASA missions planned, and new research priorities outlined, scientists are poised to address long-standing questions about solar dynamics and their impacts. Missions such as IMAP, ESCAPADE, and PUNCH will investigate solar...
-
Massive Solar Flare Closes 2024 With Radio Blackouts and Auroral Possibilities
An X1.1-class solar flare on December 29, 2024, caused strong radio blackouts on Earth, marking another significant event in the increasingly active Solar Cycle 25. Detected by NOAA's GOES-16 satellite, the eruption raises questions about a potential coronal mass ejection, which could amplify auroras during New Year celebrations. While impactful, t...
-
Solar Cycle 25: How the Sun’s Peak Activity Will Impact Earth in 2025
Solar Cycle 25 continues with high activity levels in 2025. Increased solar flares and geomagnetic storms are anticipated, with risks to satellite systems and power grids. Widespread auroras could also light up low-latitude skies. Partial solar eclipses are scheduled for March and September in select regions. Observations indicate strong solar phen...
-
Top 10 Solar Flares of 2024: The Most Powerful Solar Events and Their Impact
The Sun experienced significant solar activity in 2024, with over 50 X-class solar flares recorded. These powerful flares, originating from active regions like AR 13664, were accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that caused geomagnetic storms and spectacular auroras across the globe. Among the strongest flares was the X9.0 recorded on Octob...
-
Parker Solar Probe to Break Records with Historic Sun Flyby on December 24
NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set for a record-breaking approach to the sun on December 24, travelling at 430,000 mph and reaching within 3.8 million miles of the surface. The spacecraft, equipped with advanced heat shields, will navigate solar plasma plumes and potentially an active eruption during this phase of heightened solar activity. This flyb...
-
X-Class Solar Flare From Sunspot 3912 Causes Radio Blackouts in Southern Africa
A powerful X-class solar flare erupted from sunspot region 3912 on December 8, disrupting high-frequency radio communications in southern Africa. The flare, accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), ionised Earth’s upper atmosphere, absorbing radio signals and causing blackouts in areas exposed to peak solar activity. Experts predict the CME ...
-
Solar 'Battle Zone' Could be Even Worse Than Solar Maximum, Experts Warn
Experts warn that the sun's next phase, the "battle zone," could result in increased geomagnetic activity, lasting until 2028. This period could bring heightened solar flares and coronal holes, which may cause disruptions to satellites in low-Earth orbit. Space weather experts, including Scott McIntosh from Lynker Space, have noted that this phase ...
-
Powerful Solar Flare Disrupts Radio Signals And Poses Global Infrastructure Risks
A powerful X-class solar flare erupted, causing shortwave radio blackouts over the Atlantic, South America, and Africa.
-
Sun Erupts with X2.3 Solar Flare, Causes Radio Blackouts
On November 6, 2024, sunspot AR 3883 unleashed a powerful X2.3 solar flare, causing radio blackouts in parts of South America and Africa. The flare, classified as a strong solar event, disrupted high-frequency radio signals. Scientists are awaiting data from NASA’s SOHO spacecraft to assess the potential impact of a coronal mass ejection (CME) on...
-
Solar Maximum Explained: Current Status and Future Expectations in 2024
Solar maximum is the peak of solar activity in an approximately 11-year cycle. Currently, we are experiencing the solar maximum of Solar Cycle 25, which could last until 2026. This phase is characterized by an increase in sunspots and solar flares, impacting Earth through geomagnetic storms that can disrupt satellites, power grids, and communicatio...
-
Severe Solar Storm Warning: NOAA Predicts Auroras Across US, Possible Power Grid Impact
NOAA has issued a warning for a severe solar storm expected to hit Earth on October 10-11, 2024. This storm, classified as G4, is caused by a coronal mass ejection from the sun, travelling at nearly 2.9 million miles per hour. It has the potential to disrupt power grids, radio communications, and satellites. Additionally, the storm could enhance au...
-
A Geomagnetic Storm Has Hit Earth. Here's What It Is And What Causes Them
A geomagnetic storm lit up the night sky in parts of the US during the first weekend in October. South Africas National Space Agency (Sansa) told reporters that the storm had originated from a solar flare "that erupted from sunspot 3842 on October 3
-
The Sun Fires Off Another High Intensity X Flare, Triggers Radio Blackouts
On October 7, 2024, sunspot AR 3842 released another powerful X2.1 solar flare, causing significant radio blackouts across North and South America, as well as over the Pacific Ocean. This is the second major flare from AR 3842 after it previously unleashed the most intense solar flare in seven years. Scientists from NOAA are currently analysing dat...
