When we look up at the sky on a particularly dark night, there is a sense of timelessness. We might see the flash of a meteor, and occasionally a comet is visible to the naked eye, but the cold and distant stars are unchanging. ...
Astronomy
Feb 5, 2024
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62
Solar flares occur when magnetic energy builds up in the sun's atmosphere and is released as electromagnetic radiation. Lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, flares usually reach temperatures around 10 million ...
Astronomy
Jan 31, 2024
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21
A recently discovered solar system with six confirmed exoplanets and a possible seventh is boosting astronomers' knowledge of planet formation and evolution. Relying on a globe-spanning arsenal of observatories and instruments, ...
Astronomy
Jan 26, 2024
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161
Much like the Earth, our sun is a dynamic body with a complex—and sometimes violent—weather system. Solar storms eject highly energetic radiation that can impact our planet, forming strong auroras and disrupting power ...
Astronomy
Jan 25, 2024
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48
Where Earth's atmosphere meets space, a sea of gas particles swirl in a dance choreographed by electric and magnetic fields.
Planetary Sciences
Jan 18, 2024
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2
The sun emitted a strong solar flare, peaking at 4:55 p.m. EST, on Dec. 31, 2023. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event.
Astronomy
Jan 3, 2024
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45
The cosmos comes alive in an all-sky time-lapse movie made from 14 years of data acquired by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Our sun, occasionally flaring into prominence, serenely traces a path through the sky against ...
Astronomy
Dec 20, 2023
0
359
The asteroid and comet-hunting infrared space telescope has gathered an impressive haul of observations, but it's now at the mercy of the sun, which is accelerating its demise.
Astronomy
Dec 14, 2023
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12
Our sun actively produces solar flares that can impact Earth, with the strongest flares having the capacity to cause blackouts and disrupt communications—potentially on a global scale. While solar flares can be powerful, ...
Astronomy
Dec 6, 2023
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85
Activity from the sun, such as solar flares, can cause fluctuations in Earth's geomagnetic field that send electrical currents flowing through power grids. These geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can cause problems ...
Earth Sciences
Dec 5, 2023
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