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.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RZvrBPKshtiAfyUnNa6yLm-320-80.jpg)
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 appear as dancing ribbons of green in the sky above a snowy mountain top.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oSbdgWMsQqzQX2MEEUP8hd-320-80.jpg)
Where and when to see the northern lights in 2024
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Find out where and when to see the northern lights (aurora borealis) throughout Europe and North America in our helpful guide.
![northern lights appear as ribbons of green and purple light streaking across the sky and reflected in the water below. There are some mountains to the left side of the image.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k6okX2VVUg4qWoyxuNLsf7-320-80.jpg)
Northern lights (aurora borealis): what they are and how to see them
By Stefanie Waldek, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Reference Discover everything there is to know about the northern lights, including how they form, where they can be seen and what causes their colors.
![closeup of a huge eruption of plasma from the sun, captured by a nasa spacecraft](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jnZd2yCei8SQvnaaixV2gc-320-80.jpg)
Solar storm forecasts could soon get a big boost. Here's how.
By Meredith Garofalo published
Scientists have figured out a way to estimate the speed of a coronal mass ejection before it even leaves the sun, potentially providing a big boost to space weather forecasts.
![An aurora visible over Utah from the International Space Station, photographed in Oct. 28, 2023 by an Expedition 70 astronaut.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5pM33yxa25MVDvSEz4m9Gi-320-80.jpg)
New study shows mysterious solar particle blasts can devastate the ozone layer, bathing Earth in radiation for years
By Alan Cooper, Pavle Arsenovic published
The remarkable aurora in early May this year demonstrated the power that solar storms can emit as radiation, but occasionally the sun does something far more destructive.
![A graphic with black writing "annular solar eclipse" and red text "2024" written underneath. to the left is an ring of fire eclipsed sun and in the background is full of stars.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zokW3FLsJ6YWQrJEj9Xj4P-320-80.jpg)
Solar eclipse 2024: Live updates
By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated
Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the upcoming solar eclipses, including the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 2, 2024.
![graphic illustration of the SDO on the left and a animation showing different views of the sun on the right.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sgW9BujcGQjLcq2TfhTFR4-320-80.gif)
Solar Dynamics Observatory: Discovering the secrets of the sun's magnetic field
By Keith Cooper last updated
Reference Learn how the sun's secrets have been gradually revealed by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.
![a big white rocket launches into a blue sky, with the ocean in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ygrQqJFBFao6zNXkcGUFFj-320-80.jpg)
Powerful GOES-U weather satellite launches to orbit atop SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
NOAA's advanced GOES-U weather satellite launched today (June 25) on the 10th-ever liftoff of SpaceX's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket.
![close up view of the sun shows a large bright eruption at the edge of the sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xs9uo3ycqj55fibcBr6xnd-320-80.jpg)
It's back! Aurora-sparking sunspot returns for rare 3rd trip across the sun, firing off explosive solar flare (video)
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
The sunspot region responsible for May's epic solar storm and widespread auroras is returning for the third time.
![graphic showing two hands typing on a laptop screen with a large image of the northern lights on the screen.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3pHgKP6J6LLYLhbgNjrWVZ-320-80.jpg)
More people Googled 'northern lights' in May 2024 than in any other month in history
By Ryan French published
Public interest in the sun was at an all-time high in May. Here we explore why this was the case.
![close up image of the sun's surface shows huge fiery looking tendrils reaching out from the surface of the sun as giant loops of plasma frolic above the solar surface.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mbFB6i7aNQGMd8HNFsqCiP-320-80.jpg)
Astrophotographer captures stunning close-up views of sunspot region that spawned May's auroras
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Check out these incredible close-up views of emerging sunspot AR3697 as it turns to face Earth. The scenes were captured by astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy from his backyard in Arizona.
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