Space Weather

Space, the seemingly boundless frontier, has captivated our collective imagination for generations. As an astrodynamics researcher and space enthusiast, I’m fascinated by the delicate dance of celestial bodies and the ever-evolving technologies that help us navigate and comprehend the cosmic landscape. One such domain is Space Situational Awareness (SSA), a…

As an astrodynamics researcher and space enthusiast, I’m always intrigued by the phenomena that occur beyond our planet’s atmosphere. One such captivating subject is space weather, which has far-reaching consequences on our technology. …

In exploring the final frontier, Norway could lead the way in space weather research with the planned Andoya Space Port and EISCAT 3D. Norway is actively involved in space weather research through the operation of various observatories and the proposed development of space ports. The country’s high latitude, proximity to the auroral oval, advanced infrastructure, and scientific expertise make it an ideal location for extensive space weather research. …

Here on Earth, the Sun is our primary source of light, heat, and energy. But it also poses a grave threat to human civilization. — For life on Earth, there’s no more important source of energy than the Sun; without it, it’s doubtful that life would have arisen on Earth, and it certainly wouldn’t have evolved to give rise to the wild diversity of biological organisms seen today. …

A Carrington-magnitude event would kill millions, and cause trillions of dollars in damage. Sadly, it isn’t even the worst-case scenario. When we think of ways that the Universe can wreak havoc on Earth, we tend to think of some of the more direct catastrophes that can happen — and have…

Was it the calm before the storm is the question worrying astronomers and space scientists as the giant sunspot on the sun's surface gets quiet? Sunspot AR3089 Gets’ Quiet The most interesting year in space science continues to worry and baffle astronomers and the space science community. It doesn’t mean it’s time to relax…

Vanessa Polito is a heliophysics researcher with the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute. Originally from Italy, her work focuses on understanding the nature and dynamics of solar flares, the largest explosions in the solar system. This interview has been edited for length and clarity The Bay Area Environmental Research Institute…

Scientists have developed a new machine-learning algorithm that can process data being returned by solar missions, decreasing event detection time. — One of the biggest problems we have with all these spacecraft is receiving all of the data they send back to Earth. And once you get all that data into your local systems, people have to process and analyze everything to come up with answers and solutions.

With a successful installation onboard the ISS, preparation for PIANO to begin capturing images from space is now underway. — Satellite imagery has become an essential tool for many technologies, such as weather nowcasting and forecasting, terrain mapping, disaster monitoring for fires, floods and storms, and space weather impacts. Most space-based cameras rely primarily on the sun or moon as their light source, however, which can present a challenge.