Space Weather, Solar Flares & Sun Storms: Latest News
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Latest about space weather
![A view of bright green northern lights above a snowy landscape with a lake.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E6vx4a5h4X95uNNL5bMacZ-320-80.jpeg)
How auroras on Earth, Saturn and Jupiter could help forecast risky space weather
By Robert Lea published
Scientists have investigated the different factors shaping celestial light-shows over Earth, Saturn and Jupiter. The resulting framework could help predict risky space weather.
![gif animation showing a bright solar flare erupting from the lower left region of the sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BbfKuS8o6aWfb8GZhuqakh-320-80.gif)
Double trouble: Sun unleashes 2 powerful X-class solar flares in 12 hours (video)
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Two X-class solar flares erupted from the sun in less than 12 hours as a magnetically complex sunspot begins to face Earth.
![green and red auroras shine over a lit-up house at night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VVzbeeQVyLLodd9wG9LFqR-320-80.jpg)
We may have just witnessed some of the strongest auroras in 500 years
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
The auroral displays that wowed observers around the world two weekends ago may have been among the strongest such light shows since record-keeping began.
![colorful wisps of light appear in the night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2LgupXeq4towL6sBXYsnk6-320-80.jpg)
How do you forecast a solar storm? Space weather experts explain
By Meredith Garofalo published
While the weekend solar event gave us quite the show in the night sky, it also helps scientists learn more about space weather to continue to improve forecasts.
![spacecraft view of a patch of the sun's yellow surface, showing a large, dark, irregular sunspot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sLG3zdtMV7kZTZikgvNfBN-320-80.jpg)
Watch monster flare-spewing sunspot grow to be 15 times wider than Earth (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
A beastly sunspot that's 15 times the diameter of Earth remains highly active — and you might be able to spot it with your eclipse glasses!
![closeup of a powerful eruption fro the sun's orange-yellow surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jnZd2yCei8SQvnaaixV2gc-320-80.jpg)
NASA prepares for intense sun storms on Mars during 'solar maximum'
By Samantha Mathewson published
As the sun reaches solar maximum, Mars spacecraft are preparing to study the effects of increased radiation bombardment and how solar storms may impact future crewed missions to the Red Planet.
![illustration of a fiery orange sun erupting with multiple big solar storms.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xRMbHmiMhBvpHk5KRPcxoh-320-80.png)
Space weather can make it hard to predict satellite trajectories. Here's why that's a problem
By Tereza Pultarova published
Satellites in low Earth orbit can be hundreds of miles off their expected trajectories when bad space weather hits.
![An image of a solar flare captured by a telescope.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ps6Po7esXJmpWCrK2whcER-320-80.jpg)
Powerful X-class solar flare slams Earth, triggering radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
On March 28, Earth was hit by an X-class solar flare that was strong enough to ionize part of the planet's atmosphere.
![When sunspots erupt at nearly the same time, it could be something known ast "sympathetic solar flares." A double eruption from sunpots AR3616 and AR23614 on March 23, 2024 may be an example of it. One of the flares was an X1-class flare and was captured in multiple wavelengths by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ahy7Ki5p9cfKBpQPuNuufA-320-80.jpg)
Strongest solar storm since 2017 hits Earth but leaves aurora chasers in the dark
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
Earth just experienced the strongest solar storm since September 2017. It opened a crack in our planet's magnetosphere but failed to spark impressive auroras. Why?
![solar flare eruption on march 10 shows a bright spark of light erupt from the sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhiGdpwkPrrt4JaqrtpQHc-320-80.jpg)
Powerful solar flare eruption from 'sneaky' sunspot triggers widespread radio blackouts (video)
By Daisy Dobrijevic published
A solar flare erupted from the sun on March 10, causing widespread radio blackouts. The accompanying coronal mass ejection may trigger a geomagnetic storm on March 13.
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