Latest news with #U.S.NavalResearchLaboratory
Arabian Post
11-06-2025
- Science
- Arabian Post
Sun's May 31 Explosion Triggers G4-Level Geomagnetic Alarm
High‑velocity charged particles unleashed by the Sun have sparked a full‑scale geomagnetic alert, prompting global advisories for potential disruptions to satellites, power grids, and communications. The alert stems from a coronal mass ejection on 31 May, which pushed through space at nearly 1,950 km/s and reached Earth's magnetic field on 1 June. National space weather agencies called for a G4-level 'severe' condition after initial impacts registered a geomagnetic K-index of 8–9 on the evening of 1 June. G4 alerts are rare and represent intense disturbances capable of triggering significant technological effects. The alert encompassed 1–2 June, with levels expected to ease to G1–G2 by 3 June. Satellite operators were warned of potential drag effects on low‑Earth orbit craft, while GPS users and radio broadcasters were advised to prepare for intermittent degradation. Power grid regulators were urged to brace for voltage fluctuations and protective systems misfiring – possible consequences of geomagnetic current surges. ADVERTISEMENT Visible manifestations of the event were striking: aurora borealis and australis lit up night skies far beyond their usual polar range, with sightings reported from northern California to Alabama in the northern hemisphere, and across Tasmania and New Zealand in the south. Observers captured vivid visuals of crimson pillars and dancing curtains, with some flights even witnessing auroras from the air. Meteorologists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory emphasised the real‑time capture of the CME's trajectory as a milestone in space‑weather monitoring, aiding prompt warning systems coordination. The eruption originated from sunspot region AR4100, noted for its energetic activity during this solar maximum cycle. Despite the elevated alert, experts clarified that the event is unlikely to match the magnitude of the May 2024 'Mother's Day' storm, which had reached G5 severity. Nonetheless, the G4-level forecast is a reminder that even moderate-to-strong geomagnetic storms can have cascading effects on modern infrastructure. The precise timing and severity of the storm remained uncertain until the CME's magnetic field components were measured by space‑based observatories stationed approximately 1 million miles from Earth. As of 2 June, official statements confirmed the peak had occurred, with impact levels tapering to G2/G1 standards. A feature of these events is their dual nature: while posing risks to satellites and communications, they also offer rich opportunities for scientific observation. Data now being gathered on the CME's structure, velocity and magnetic orientation will feed into models forecasting solar–terrestrial coupling, enabling refined predictions for future events. The timing of this explosion—coinciding with the current solar maximum—underlines the cyclical nature of solar activity and its potential consequences for Earth. Official sources continue to monitor geomagnetic indices and solar wind parameters, issuing updated advisories as required and urging critical infrastructure operators worldwide to remain alert.
NBC News
21-04-2025
- Science
- NBC News
A green comet likely is breaking apart and won't be visible to the naked eye
A newly discovered green comet tracked by telescopes has likely broken apart as it swung by the sun, dashing hopes of a naked-eye spectacle. Comet SWAN, hailing from the Oort Cloud beyond Pluto, has been visible through telescopes and binoculars over the past few weeks with its streaming tail, but experts said it may not have survived its recent trip past the sun and is fading fast. 'We'll soon be left with just a dusty rubble pile,' astrophysicist Karl Battams with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory said in an email. Comets are balls of frozen gas and dust from billions of years ago. Every so often, a comet passes through the inner solar system. 'These are relics from when the solar system first formed,' said Jason Ybarra, director of the West Virginia University Planetarium and Observatory. The newest comet was discovered by amateur astronomers, who spied it in photos taken by a camera on a spacecraft operated by NASA and the European Space Agency to study the sun. The comet won't swing close to Earth like Tsuchinshan-Atlas did last year. Other notable flybys included Neowise in 2020 and Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in the 1990s. The comet, also designated C/2025 F2, would have been visible just after dark slightly north of where the sun set. Its green color would have been difficult to see with the naked eye. This might have been the object's first ever trip past the sun, making it particularly vulnerable to breaking apart, Battams said. After its flyby, what's left of the comet will disappear into the outer reaches of the solar system, past where scientists think it came from. 'It's going to go so far out that we have no idea if it's ever going to return,' said Battams.
The Independent
21-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Astronomers left disappointed as green comet meets fiery end before it can be seen
A news discovered comet, Comet SWAN, appears to have met a fiery end during its close encounter with the sun, disappointing astronomers hoping for a vibrant celestial display. Originating from the distant Oort Cloud, far beyond Pluto, the comet had been captivating observers with its distinctive tail, visible through telescopes and binoculars. However, experts now believe the icy wanderer likely fragmented as it swung past the sun, rapidly diminishing its brightness and dashing hopes of naked-eye visibility. 'We'll soon be left with just a dusty rubble pile,' astrophysicist Karl Battams with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory said in an email. Comets are balls of frozen gas and dust from billions of years ago. Every so often, a comet passes through the inner solar system. 'These are relics from when the solar system first formed,' said Jason Ybarra, director of the West Virginia University Planetarium and Observatory. The newest comet was discovered by amateur astronomers, who spied it in photos taken by a camera on a spacecraft operated by NASA and the European Space Agency to study the sun. The comet won't swing close to Earth like Tsuchinshan-Atlas did last year. Other notable flybys included Neowise in 2020 and Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in the 1990s. The comet, also designated C/2025 F2, would have been visible just after dark slightly north of where the sun set. Its green color would have been difficult to see with the naked eye. This might have been the object's first ever trip past the sun, making it particularly vulnerable to breaking apart, Battams said. After its flyby, what's left of the comet will disappear into the outer reaches of the solar system, past where scientists think it came from. 'It's going to go so far out that we have no idea if it's ever going to return,' said Battams.
San Francisco Chronicle
21-04-2025
- Science
- San Francisco Chronicle
A green comet likely is breaking apart and won't be visible to the naked eye
NEW YORK (AP) — A newly discovered green comet tracked by telescopes has likely broken apart as it swung by the sun, dashing hopes of a naked-eye spectacle. Comet SWAN, hailing from the Oort Cloud beyond Pluto, has been visible through telescopes and binoculars over the past few weeks with its streaming tail, but experts said it may not have survived its recent trip past the sun and is fading fast. 'We'll soon be left with just a dusty rubble pile,' astrophysicist Karl Battams with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory said in an email. Comets are balls of frozen gas and dust from billions of years ago. Every so often, a comet passes through the inner solar system. 'These are relics from when the solar system first formed,' said Jason Ybarra, director of the West Virginia University Planetarium and Observatory. The newest comet was discovered by amateur astronomers, who spied it in photos taken by a camera on a spacecraft operated by NASA and the European Space Agency to study the sun. The comet won't swing close to Earth like Tsuchinshan-Atlas did last year. Other notable flybys included Neowise in 2020 and Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in the 1990s. The comet, also designated C/2025 F2, would have been visible just after dark slightly north of where the sun set. Its green color would have been difficult to see with the naked eye. This might have been the object's first ever trip past the sun, making it particularly vulnerable to breaking apart, Battams said. After its flyby, what's left of the comet will disappear into the outer reaches of the solar system, past where scientists think it came from. 'It's going to go so far out that we have no idea if it's ever going to return,' said Battams. ___
The Independent
21-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
A green comet likely is breaking apart and won't be visible to the naked eye
A newly discovered green comet tracked by telescopes has likely broken apart as it swung by the sun, dashing hopes of a naked-eye spectacle. Comet SWAN, hailing from the Oort Cloud beyond Pluto, has been visible through telescopes and binoculars over the past few weeks with its streaming tail, but experts said it may not have survived its recent trip past the sun and is fading fast. 'We'll soon be left with just a dusty rubble pile,' astrophysicist Karl Battams with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory said in an email. Comets are balls of frozen gas and dust from billions of years ago. Every so often, a comet passes through the inner solar system. 'These are relics from when the solar system first formed,' said Jason Ybarra, director of the West Virginia University Planetarium and Observatory. The newest comet was discovered by amateur astronomers, who spied it in photos taken by a camera on a spacecraft operated by NASA and the European Space Agency to study the sun. The comet won't swing close to Earth like Tsuchinshan-Atlas did last year. Other notable flybys included Neowise in 2020 and Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in the 1990s. The comet, also designated C/2025 F2, would have been visible just after dark slightly north of where the sun set. Its green color would have been difficult to see with the naked eye. This might have been the object's first ever trip past the sun, making it particularly vulnerable to breaking apart, Battams said. After its flyby, what's left of the comet will disappear into the outer reaches of the solar system, past where scientists think it came from. 'It's going to go so far out that we have no idea if it's ever going to return,' said Battams. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
