Space Weather, Solar Flares & Sun Storms: Latest News

French skywatcher Jean-Pierre Brahic took this photo of the violent solar flare from the sunspot 1302 on the sun's surface on Sept. 22, 2011. Earth is superimposed for scale.
French skywatcher Jean-Pierre Brahic took this photo of the violent solar flare from the sunspot 1302 on the sun's surface on Sept. 22, 2011. Earth is superimposed for scale. (Image credit: Jean-Pierre Brahic)

See our amazing collection of stories and features about the increasingly important topic of space weather (aka solar storms).

Related Topics: Solar Eclipse, Aurora Borealis 

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Latest about space weather

Northern lights may be visible in these 7 US states (and maybe more) tonight

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Auroras may be visible from Alaska to Idaho as geomagnetic storm conditions are predicted to continue tonight.

Auroras
A long fuselage lays on the left on the floor of a large factory..

Blue Origin now targeting mid-October for launch of twin NASA Mars probes on 2nd-ever New Glenn rocket

By Josh Dinner published

Blue Origin's powerful New Glenn rocket is taking steps toward the launchpad to fly NASA's ESCAPADE Mars mission, now lifting off no earlier than (NET) mid-October.

Launches & Spacecraft
A large metal cylinder covered with black plastic is stood between blue scaffolding.

NASA's IMAP spacecraft getting packed up for launch | Space photo of the day for Sept. 24, 2025

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Sept. 24 to study the solar wind and space weather.

Launches & Spacecraft
SpaceX launch Sept. 24.

SpaceX launches 3 probes to study space weather and map the boundaries of our solar system (video)

By Mike Wall published

NASA's IMAP mission and two other spacecraft launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket early Wednesday morning (Sept. 24) to study space weather and its effects on Earth.

Launches & Spacecraft

Annular solar eclipse February 2026: Live updates

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

The next solar eclipse will be on Feb. 17, 2026.

Solar Eclipses
From left to right, NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) missions will map our Sun’s influence across the solar system in new ways.

Watch SpaceX launch 3 space weather probes today

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch NASA's ambitious IMAP mission and two other space weather probes early Wednesday morning (Sept. 24), and you can watch the action live.

Launches & Spacecraft

'We must replace this capability now': New NOAA satellite to replace aging space weather sentinels launches Sept. 23

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

After decades of relying on aging satellites, NOAA is launching a purpose-built eye on the sun.

Satellites

Surprise solar storm sparks stunning auroras across the US (photos)

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

A hidden magnetic island inside a coronal hole unleashed a surprise G3 storm, sparking dazzling displays across the US.

Auroras

Aurora alert! Butterfly-shaped 'hole' in sun's atmosphere could spark geomagnetic storm Sept. 13-14

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Forecasters warn of possible G2 geomagnetic storms as a colossal coronal hole sends solar wind racing our way.

Auroras
a close up view of the sun erupting with an x class solar flare over the left limb.

108 million degrees! Solar flares are far hotter than thought, study suggests

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

New research shows that solar flares are six times hotter than thought and calls for updated sun models that could improve space weather forecasting.

The Sun
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