HT @g7izu

"Transpower has issued a grid emergency notice ahead of a severe geomagnetic storm and removed some South Island electricity transmission lines from service.

The national grid operator says the move won't affect the electricity supply to homes and businesses, but will prevent damage to critical equipment if the storm worsens.

Geomagnetic storms can send unwanted currents through electricity circuits, and have the potential to cause serious damage if they reach substations transformers or large hydroelectric dams.

The storms are caused by space weather, when the Sun ejects plasma and other matter in Earth's direction.

Coronal mass ejections (CME) are rare, and generally aren't noticed on earth thanks to the planet's magnetic field shielding the planet from particles, Transpower said."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/578677/grid-emergency-notice-sparked-by-solar-storm

#SolarStorm #SpaceWeather #GridEmergency #CMEs

NASA’S Parker Probe is on a mission to “touch the sun.” It’s orbiting, with each trip around a bit closer than the previous.

Parker has a camera system called WISPR that films the sun’s corona. It just recently sent back stunning images of the closest images of its atmosphere.

This is a small clip. Read more and watch the whole video here:

https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/nasas-parker-solar-probe-snaps-closest-ever-images-to-sun/

(Hat tip: Colossal)

#Space #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Sun #MilkyWay #NASA #ParkerProbe #CMEs

Aurora Australis from Royal National Park! This is AMAZING.

The big solar storm that is passing us this week, triggered nu a coronal mass ejection from the Sun has produced a class G4 / G5 geomagnetic storm.

Our magnetosphere deflects most of the particles from Sun away, but near the poles, some spiral down and excite our atmosphere - producing aurora.

This storm was powerful enough to generate aurora sightings as far north as Coonabarabran and the Siding Spring Observatory. That's around 340 km NW of Sydney (closer to the equator, at 31 degrees south!)

While city lights drowned out the view for many, those under darker skies were treated to an extraordinary show. This stunning timelapse footage, captured by my friend Filippo Rivetti from Royal National Park south of Sydney, offers a glimpse of the awe-inspiring beauty and planetary-scale force of this event.

A reminder of the vast, dynamic forces at play: a star lashing out across space, and a planet, our home planet with its protective magnetic shield - hosting the only life we know of so far in the Universe, safely within.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXP49hxf9ck

#AuroraAustralis #SolarStorm #SpaceWeather #Astrophysics #CMEs #Magnetosphere #Astrodon

New BMJ Tobacco Control paper out this week uses #tobaccoindustry documents!

Historical and political context for Philip Morris International’s continuing medical education courses on harm reduction -
https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059015

#CMEs #PMI #archives

Another #XFlare / Severe #GeomagneticStorm Watch

via #SolarHam

October 9, 2024 @ 15:50 UTC (UPDATED)

"A moderate (S2) to Strong (S3) radiation storm remains in progress following the energetic X-Flare produced by #AR3848.

"A severe (G4) geomagnetic storm watch was officially added beginning tomorrow when the fast moving CME associated with the flare event is expected to sweep past Earth. While there are no guarantees, a repeat of the geomagnetic storm and aurora event back in May could be on the horizon.

"Oh... and an impulsive X1.4 solar flare was observed around departing AR 3842 at 15:47 UTC (Oct 9)."

Source:
https://solarham.com/

#SolarCycle25 #XClassFlares #Auroras #RadioInterference #CMEs #SolarFlares #SolarFlare