solar phenomena
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Recent Solar Outbursts Trigger Dramatic Auroras on Mars
A recent outburst from the Sun sent a strong blast of charged particles and radiation towards Mars, allowing scientists to get a rare glimpse at how these events unfold on planets other than Earth. NASA’s Curiosity rover captured the aftermath of a solar storm on the Martian surface, using its navigation cameras to record as…
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Not Just Auroras: Here’s the Tech That Got Hit by This Weekend’s Solar Storm
Over the weekend, Earth was hit by the strongest geomagnetic storm in 20 years. The intense solar activity sent bursts of radiation toward Earth, causing fluctuations in the upper atmosphere that led to disruptions in the power grid and radio blackouts, among other technologies and infrastructure. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction…
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Streamers and Loops: What the Sun’s Hyperactive Phase Means for the Upcoming Solar Eclipse
Things have been heating up for the Sun, as the star approaches peak activity during its 11-year cycle, with giant eruptions bursting regularly from its surface. Luckily for us, this coincides with the Moon passing between the Earth and its host star, offering a captivating view of the solar corona during the upcoming solar eclipse.…
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Something Unearthly Could Switch Train Signals From Red to Green
Some train track circuits are at the mercy of distant storms on the Sun’s surface, researchers found, which could cause train signals to jump from red to green and vice versa as a result of extreme space weather. The Sun is a dynamic star, with stormy outbursts that fling radiation millions of miles into the…