July 18, 2010: NASA-funded researchers are monitoring a big event in our planet’s atmosphere. High above Earth’s surface where the atmosphere meets space, a rarefied layer of gas called “the thermosphere” recently collapsed and now is rebounding again.
“This is the biggest contraction of the thermosphere in at least 43 years,” says John Emmert of the Naval Research Lab, lead … Read the rest of this article
A high-speed solar wind stream hit Earth’s magnetic field last night (May 2-3), sparking a geomagnetic storm that lasted more than 15 hours. In Scandinavia, the Northern Lights were so bright they could be seen through the glow of the midnight sun. Red auroras spilled across the Canadian border and were spotted in several US states. Details and images are … Read the rest of this article
This year’s main celebration will be on March 20, 2010, @1pm – 2pm ET.
NASA EDGE, an award-winning talk show known for offbeat, funny and informative behind-the-scene stories about the space agency, will celebrate Sun-Earth Day 2010, with a live webcast about our sun and its effects on Earth. The program will air at 1 p.m. … Read the rest of this article
A network of cameras deployed around the Arctic in support of NASA’s THEMIS mission has made a startling discovery about the Northern Lights. Sometimes, vast curtains of aurora borealis collide, producing spectacular outbursts of light. Movies of the phenomenon were unveiled at the Fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union today in San Francisco.
“Our jaws dropped when we saw … Read the rest of this article
The first noctilucent clouds of 2009 have been seen over northern Europe. On May 29th, photographers recorded wispy electric-blue tendrils spreading across the twilight skies of Denmark, Northern Ireland and Scotland. This follows a similar display over Russia on May 27th. These sightings signal the beginning of the 2009 Noctilucent Cloud season, which is expected to last until late July. … Read the rest of this article
NASA is inviting the public to vote online for the most important contribution the space agency has made to exploring Earth and improving the way we live on our home planet. NASA is conducting the survey as part of its celebration of Earth Day, April 22. Voting begins today, and closes on April 21. Poll results will be announced on … Read the rest of this article
NASA scientists will reveal new information and images about our sun and its influence on Earth and the solar system for Sun-Earth Day, recognized each year in conjunction with the spring equinox. The highlight of this year’s celebration is a webcast for students and teachers around the world beginning at 1 p.m. EDT, … Read the rest of this article
Pop quiz: define undular bore.
If your answer included words such as dull or tiresome, i.e., boring, think again. Or better yet, click on the image below to see an undular bore in action:
Above: Undular bore waves over Iowa, Oct. 3, 2007.
Movies: 5 MB mov, 5 MB gif, 13 MB gif.
Those giant waves—”undular … Read the rest of this article
Lightning is more than light and noise: It’s an intense chemical factory that affects both local air quality and global climate. But how big is the effect? Researchers aren’t sure. To answer the question they’re developing a new technique to estimate the factory’s output.
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If successful, the method will be … Read the rest of this article
The Sun Now (Visible light)
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The Sun Now (H-Alpha light)
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Aurora Oval
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Aurora Oval
(Southern Hemisphere) |
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