US retailer Target has released a preview of its Black Friday 2023 sale.
28.10.2023 - 05:03 / tech.hindustantimes.com / Storm
Just a couple of days ago, a sneaky solar storm struck the Earth, sparking auroras in the Arctic Circle. The reason for the storm was not known since no coronal mass ejection (CME) was expected to hit the planet. It turned out that a crack opened up in the magnetosphere, allowing solar radiation to easily pass through. Now, another similar incident is on the cards, only at a much higher intensity. A massive hole has opened up on the Sun this time which is releasing a stream of solar winds. It is expected to reach the Earth on October 30, when it can trigger a solar storm, as per the forecast. The NASA Solar Dynamic Observatory images show the hole through which solar winds are escaping.
According to a report by SpaceWeather, “Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are likely on Oct. 30th when a solar wind stream is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The gaseous material is flowing from a double-lobed hole in the sun's atmosphere”. A short video of the Sun, from the exact moment when solar winds escaped its surface, can be seen in the opening seconds of this NASA video.
The forecast has predicted a G1-class storm, which essentially means that it will spark auroras and can cause disruptions for some radio waves, resulting in likely disruption of communication for mariners, aviators, drone pilots, and amateur radio operators.
However, that is not the full extent of what solar storms can do. In worst cases, such storms can disrupt GPS and mobile networks, hamper internet connectivity, damage satellites, cause power grid failures, and even corrupt ground-based electronics.
The NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) carries a full suite of instruments to observe the Sun and has been doing so since 2010. It uses three very crucial instruments to collect data from various solar activities. They include the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) which takes high-resolution measurements of the longitudinal and vector magnetic field over the entire visible solar disk, Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) which measures the Sun's extreme ultraviolet irradiance, and Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) which provides continuous full-disk observations of the solar chromosphere and corona in seven extreme ultraviolet (EUV) channels.
US retailer Target has released a preview of its Black Friday 2023 sale.
Ubisoft dropped a new Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora trailer today to showcase what the publisher has planned for the game post-launch. It showcases a pair of story packs and exclusive content at launch for players who purchase the title’s Season Pass.
The Sun has turned volatile and its activity is expected to increase further as the peak of solar cycle 25 comes closer. The current solar cycle has already exceeded expectations, with more number of sunspots already seen than predicted. Earth could be in line to face CMEs, solar flares, solar storms, and other particles with potentially disastrous consequences in the coming weeks and months.
Solar winds have been part of the reason behind the recent series of solar storms that have struck the Earth in the last couple of weeks. They either sparked solar storm incidents or amplified an active storm. But often, we tend to overlook its potential to cause damage when compared to solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME). However, as per NASA officials and research papers, these stellar winds are capable of not only sparking solar storms but also triggering forest fires, and damaging spacecraft, potentially putting the lives of astronauts in danger.
Yesterday, the NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) detected a coronal mass ejection (CME) that appeared to be coming towards the Earth. The early assessment revealed that it could hit the Earth in the late hours of November 11, although it wasn't clear whether the strike would be a direct one or a glancing blow. Earlier today, NASA ran the data through its prediction model and we have a much clearer picture of what is to come. The CME is now expected to hit the Earth tomorrow, November 12. It is also expected to be a head-on collision, and the solar storm can reach an intensity of G2-class.
Even with just six Earth-facing active sunspots on the Sun, the solar activity in the last fortnight has been more intense than many months combined this year. This is the second most intense solar storm spell we have seen since March when two G3-class storms were spotted in the same month. To make matters worse, it is not likely to stop anytime soon. The NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has detected a halo-shaped coronal mass ejection (CME) headed towards the Earth. The data highlights that it will make strike the Earth tomorrow, November 11, in the late hours, triggering a solar storm that can be as intense as G2-class.
Prepare to be captivated by the latest visual treat from NASA as the space agency has unveiled a breathtaking image of an aurora taken from the International Space Station (ISS) after a solar storm strike. The celestial spectacle unfolded above Utah, USA, on a Sunday night, casting a radiant green glow that painted the night sky with an otherworldly charm.
Sony is reconsidering the live service plans it made earlier this year, while Gotham Knights' publisher says it wants to go all in.
There are some things we know about solar storms. First is that they strike the Earth near the polar region, due to the magnetic field lines of our planet. We also know that this is why auroras are primarily seen in the high latitude regions, as due to high concentrations of charged particles in the atmosphere, oxygen and nitrogen get ionized and create these fantastic colors. As the charged particles move down south, the charged particles dissipate and auroras are not visible. However, the solar storm strike on the night of November 5 and early morning of November 6 might well have created history after sparking auroras as far south as the equator itself.
Now that Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has a new developer, The Chinese Room, we're going through the whole rigamarole of teasers and reveals all over again, starting now and carrying on into 2024, and possibly beyond. I hope you're prepared.
The Marvels is, first and foremost, a sequel to Marvel Studios' 2019 flick Captain Marvel, but it's also a follow-up to Disney Plus TV shows WandaVision, Ms. Marvel, and Secret Invasion. With that, it was impossible for director Nia DaCosta to base it on a sole comic, so she found inspiration in several.
Last week, a forecast revealed that three coronal mass ejections had a probability of striking the Earth early this week. The forecast had given different probabilities based on how different circumstances can affect the intensity of the resultant solar storm. It turned out that in a rare coincidence, the conditions were met to spark the worst-possible solar event, and a G3-class storm ensued yesterday, November 6. While a lot of it has subsided, the solar storm event does not look like it is going to subside anytime soon. A stream of solar winds is headed for the Earth, and it can spark another round of solar storms, that can reach the intensity of G2-class, which is possible today, November 7.