coronal mass ejections

In late-April 2023, Earth experienced a powerful geomagnetic storm that illuminated the skies with mesmerizing auroras, even in lower latitudes like Ladakh in India. Mostly, these auroras are restricted to the North Pole and northern regions of the world, but this geomagnetic storm was so powerful that it generated auroras that could be seen as far South as in Ladakh. Now, Indian astronomers have traced the origins of this intense storm back to the Sun. Notably, they used data collected from multiple space telescopes…

India's maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1, has achieved a significant milestone as the advanced sensors aboard the spacecraft successfully detected the coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the payload— Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)— played a pivotal role in capturing these crucial observations.PAPA is an energy and mass analyser designed for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions in the low energy range. Equipped with two sensors— the Solar…

A Japanese auroral drawing showing an observation at Okazaki on 4 February 1872, as reproduced with courtesy of Shounji Temple (contrast enhanced). Credit: Shounji Temple In November this year, the northern lights were seen unusually far south, in locations like Italy and Texas. This was due to the effects of a solar coronal mass ejection on Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. However, this was minor compared to a massive solar storm in February 1872. The 1872 event caused global auroras, visible even near the equator…

Image Source : NASA Solar storm warning NASA Warns about Solar Storm which might hit the earth today In the past week (in November 2023), the sun increased its activity, with a rise in sunspots and the launch of several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) daily. It was reported by NASA that Earth is continuously experiencing solar storms and it further states that there…

New research highlights the risks posed by space radiation to lunar and Martian exploration, focusing on a recent Solar Energetic Particle event. It underscores the varying levels of natural protection against such radiation on Earth, the Moon, and Mars, and stresses the importance of developing effective shielding for astronaut safety in future space missions.Space radiation poses a significant challenge to humanity’s ambitions in space exploration, particularly in missions to the Moon and Mars. This radiation, primarily…

The Sun is at the centre of all activity in our solar system. So, ever wondered what is solar activity? Well, solar activity includes coronal mass ejections, high-speed solar wind, solar flares and solar energetic particles and they all are driven by the influence of the solar magnetic field. Yes, all of it is powered by our volatile Sun. Interesting, no? So, do you know that these solar activities may also affect the technology spread across the globe and in space by humanity? Yes, these solar storms created by the Sun…

The sun is producing fireworks—letting off a trio of solar flares in just two hours amid a period of high activity that may cause mild consequences on Earth. Late July 17 and early July 18, the sun let off three of what scientists call M-class flares. (Solar flares are bursts of radiation from the sun and are categorized by their strength. X-class are the most powerful, followed by M-class; C, B and A-class flares are each progressively 10 times weaker.) According to SpaceWeather.com, the third and most powerful flare’s…

As the United States celebrated Independence Day on July 4, the Sun put on its own spectacular firework display, heralding the arrival of two solar storms or coronal mass ejections (CMEs). NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) captured the incoming CME clouds, revealing their partially directed trajectory towards Earth. CMEs consist of charged solar particles and magnetic fields, with some containing up to a billion tons of plasma.NASA predicts that the impact of these ionised gas ejections, or plasma, will…

In a recent discovery, scientists have found a way to better understand the speed of solar particles that causes a solar storm. Did you know that the most energetic processes seen in the solar system are Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that cause massive solar storms. Even with Earth's protective electromagnetic field, it can have a serious impact on our daily lives. Making a reason for scientists to study solar energetic particle (SEP) events.According to Space.com, researchers have found that particles…

The Earth got lucky once again as it narrowly missed the incoming coronal mass ejection (CME) cloud and escaped what could have been a terrifying solar storm event. This is the third time in two months that the Earth has barely escaped being sideswiped by a CME wave. But how long can this luck actually last? That is what astronomers are wondering as six giant sunspots are facing the Earth. With such a high number of active regions on the Sun, it seems inevitable that one of them will blast a CME that can cause a solar…