What is the heliosphere and how can we measure it?

The heliosphere is a bubble of solar gas that extends outward and protects the planets from interstellar radiation. Scientists would like a probe to study it.

Sun activity archive for June 2024

Sun activity archive for June 2024. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

Will solar flares destroy modern civilization? Nah

David Wallace of Mississippi State University talks to Deborah Byrd about solar flares and the impact a big storm from the sun would have on Earth today.

Among solar storms, the one causing the Carrington Event was BIG

Massive solar storms could damage the power grid, disrupt the internet, affect the ability of GPS and create auroras that reach toward the equator.

Auroras on May 10-11 wowed millions! Pics here

Auroras last night from "extreme" geomagnetic storming - which came after a week of very high activity on the sun - wowed millions around the globe.

Giant sunspot region now visible in eclipse glasses

Did you save your eclipse glasses from the April 8 total solar eclipse? If so, grab them to check out giant sunspot region AR3664, now facing Earth!

Sun activity archive for May 2024

Sun activity archive for May 2024. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.

Monday’s total solar eclipse from space

Earth-observing satellites captured imagery of the Moon’s shadow as it raced eastward over North America on the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse.

Total solar eclipses are due to a fantastic coincidence

Total solar eclipses are the result of a fantastic coincidence: The moon is 400 times smaller than the sun but also 400 times closer to Earth.

The April 8 eclipse will reduce solar power, strain the grid

The April 8 eclipse will impact solar power generation, straining the grid. But grid operators are ready to compensate for the loss of energy production.

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