SPACE WEATHER INTRO — PART 1
According to NASA, Cannibal Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), refer to "fast-moving solar eruptions that overtake and devour their slower-moving kin; [Cannibal CMEs] can trigger long-lasting geomagnetic storms when they strike Earth's magnetosphere." (See Cannibal CMEs) for additional information.
The National Space Weather Program wrote, "Space weather refers to conditions on the Sun and in the space environment that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems, and can endanger human life or health."1
This page of our website presents BASIC information on Space Weather!
The Importance of Space Weather
Space weather refers to "conditions on the Sun and in the solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems and that can affect human life and health." (See Space Weather: The Solar Perspective.)
There are a number of reasons one might wish to learn the basics of space weather; the primary reason is the way space weather can, and does, create geomagnetic storms on Earth.
The intensity of these storms range from minor to severe; while minor geomagnetic storms do not wreak havoc, severe ones have done so in the past, and will do so in the future.
Ultimately, understanding the basics of space weather provides a clear advantage; that is, knowing when a geomagnetic storm is headed to Earth—and its intensity—allows one to (a) understand how to determine known and/or possible short- or long-term effects of the storm, and (b) prepare accordingly.
X5.4-CLASS FLARE — 03.09.2012
To start the video, simply click the play button. Enjoy!
ANOTHER VIEW!
NASA says of the following movie:
This movie of the March 6, 2012 X5.4 flare was captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) in the 171 and 131 Angstrom wavelength.
One of the most dramatic features is the way the entire surface of the sun seems to ripple with the force of the eruption.
This movement comes from something called EIT waves -- because they were first discovered with the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on the Solar Heliospheric Observatory. Since SDO captures images every 12 seconds, it has been able to map the full evolution of these waves and confirm that they can travel across the full breadth of the sun.
The waves move at over a million miles per hour, zipping from one side of the sun to the other in about an hour.The movie shows two distinct waves. The first seems to spread in all directions; the second is narrower, moving toward the southeast. Such waves are associated with, and perhaps trigger, fast coronal mass ejections, so it is likely that each one is connected to one of the two CMEs that erupted on March 6.
M-CLASS FLARE FOLLOWED BY X-CLASS FLARE — 03.05.2012
The following video shows a "M-class Flare followed by a X-class Flare; the video shows March 04 thru March 06, 2012.
A truly phenomenal representation of the POWER of the Sun!
To start the video, simply run your mouse cursor over it. Enjoy!
To start the video, simply click on the 'play' button. Enjoy!
AURORAS UNDERFOOT
Lately, the International Space Station has been flying through geomagnetic storms, giving astronauts a close-up view of the aurora borealis just outside their windows.
Really COOL aurora shots!
Now . . . let's take a little tour into the realm of: