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SpaceX Launches IMAP, CGO, SWFO-L1 to Probe Solar Frontier and Space Weather
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 24, 2025, carrying NASA’s IMAP, CGO, and SWFO-L1 spacecraft. The mission aims to chart the heliosphere’s boundary, monitor Earth’s geocorona, and deliver constant space-weather alerts, protecting satellites and astronauts while expanding knowledge of the solar system’s outer edge.
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Sun Shows Signs of Rising Activity Following Decades of Weakening, Study Finds
A new NASA study shows the Sun’s activity has been rising since 2008, reversing decades of decline. The unexpected trend suggests greater risks from solar storms, flares, and plasma ejections. Scientists stress improved forecasting is essential, with upcoming missions like IMAP and SWFO-L1 set to expand space weather monitoring and protection eff...
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IMAP Space Weather Mission to Lift Off Soon, NASA Confirms Broadcast Plans
NASA will stream the Sept. 23 launch of IMAP with two rideshare satellites from Kennedy Space Centre. IMAP will study the heliosphere, Carruthers will image Earth’s exosphere, and NOAA’s SWFO-L1 will provide early solar storm warnings. Together, the missions advance space weather science while protecting satellites, communications, and power sy...
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Scientists Say Solar Flares Are Hotter Than Expected, Could Reach 108 Million Degrees
A groundbreaking study shows ions in solar flares can reach 108 million°F, about six times hotter than earlier estimates. The research explains decades-old mysteries in flare spectra and urges new “multi-temperature” models to better forecast space weather, protecting satellites, astronauts, and communications from hazardous solar storms.
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NASA and NOAA Set to Launch Solar Probes for Space Weather Forecasting
In Sept. 2025, NASA and NOAA will launch three spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 to the Sun–Earth L1 point. IMAP will map the heliosphere’s edge, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory will study Earth’s exosphere, and SWFO-L1 will deliver real-time solar storm warnings. Together, they aim to improve space-weather science and safeguard technology on...
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Astronomers Capture Sharpest-Ever Solar Flare Images with NSF’s DKIST Telescope
Astronomers have achieved a major breakthrough by capturing the sharpest images of a solar flare ever recorded, using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST). Observed at the hydrogen-alpha wavelength during the decay of an X1.3-class solar flare, the images unveiled hundreds of ultra-fine coronal loops averagin...
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Researcher Photographs Giant Solar Tornado and Massive Plasma Eruption at the Same Time
On August 20, researcher Maximilian Teodorescu captured a rare photo of two dramatic solar events — a giant tornado of plasma rising 130,000 km and an eruptive prominence spanning 200,000 km. Both were shaped by the sun’s unstable magnetic fields. While the prominence did release a CME, it is not aimed at Earth.
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Rare Giant Solar Tornado and Plasma Eruption Captured Together on the Sun
A Romanian researcher captured a rare sight on the Sun — a giant solar tornado alongside a massive plasma eruption. Both events, driven by magnetic field changes, highlight the Sun’s extreme activity during solar maximum. Luckily, the eruption’s CME is not headed toward Earth.
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NASA Launches AI Model To Understand Solar Eruptions, Predict Space Weather
NASA is raising the bar in solar science with the debut of the Surya Heliophysics Foundational Model, an artificial intelligence system built to decode the Sun's complex behavior.
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NASA’s PUNCH Mission Completes Final Orbit Manoeuvres, Opens Early Sun Data to the Public
NASA’s PUNCH mission has reached full operational status, enabling continuous monitoring of the Sun and solar wind from multiple vantage points around Earth. This collaborative effort complements other major solar missions and promises valuable insights into the Sun–Earth connection. Early public release of PUNCH’s science data marks an excit...
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NASA's TRACERS Satellites Begin Solar Wind Study Despite SV1 Glitch
NASA launched its twin TRACERS satellites on July 23, 2025, to study how solar wind causes magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetosphere. However, a power issue on one spacecraft, SV1, has caused intermittent communication. Engineers believe the issue relates to sunlight availability on its solar panels and plan recovery efforts in August. Meanwhi...
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Sun Erupts with Triple Solar Flares After Weeks of Silence
After a 22-day period of solar calm, the Sun unleashed three M-class solar flares on August 3–4, 2025, all originating from active sunspot region AR 4168. These moderate flares released intense radiation, capable of briefly disrupting high-frequency radio signals and potentially sparking auroras at high latitudes. Scientists also detected likel...
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Solar Sail Spacecraft Could Boost Space Weather Warnings by Nearly 60 Minutes
A solar sail spacecraft could extend space weather warnings from 40 to 60 minutes, offering vital lead time before solar storms strike. Part of the SWIFT mission, this satellite will orbit farther than any current monitor, using sunlight for propulsion. The system aims to better protect satellites, astronauts, and power grids from geomagnetic disru...
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NASA’s Solar Observatory Sees Two Eclipses in One Day
In a rare celestial event, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured two eclipses on July 25, 2025. First, at 2:45 UTC, the Moon passed between SDO and the Sun, covering about 62% of the solar disk. Just hours later, around 6:30 UTC, Earth itself blocked the Sun entirely from SDO’s perspective. These dual eclipses occurred during SDO’s...
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NASA’s TRACERS Mission Successfully Launches to Explore Earth’s Magnetic Field and Solar Wind Interactions
NASA's latest launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base saw the TRACERS mission successfully lift off, one day after a delay due to FAA airspace restrictions. The mission promises valuable insights into solar wind interactions and space weather impacts.
-
SpaceX Launches IMAP, CGO, SWFO-L1 to Probe Solar Frontier and Space Weather
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 24, 2025, carrying NASA’s IMAP, CGO, and SWFO-L1 spacecraft. The mission aims to chart the heliosphere’s boundary, monitor Earth’s geocorona, and deliver constant space-weather alerts, protecting satellites and astronauts while expanding knowledge of the solar system’s outer edge.
-
Sun Shows Signs of Rising Activity Following Decades of Weakening, Study Finds
A new NASA study shows the Sun’s activity has been rising since 2008, reversing decades of decline. The unexpected trend suggests greater risks from solar storms, flares, and plasma ejections. Scientists stress improved forecasting is essential, with upcoming missions like IMAP and SWFO-L1 set to expand space weather monitoring and protection eff...
-
IMAP Space Weather Mission to Lift Off Soon, NASA Confirms Broadcast Plans
NASA will stream the Sept. 23 launch of IMAP with two rideshare satellites from Kennedy Space Centre. IMAP will study the heliosphere, Carruthers will image Earth’s exosphere, and NOAA’s SWFO-L1 will provide early solar storm warnings. Together, the missions advance space weather science while protecting satellites, communications, and power sy...
-
Scientists Say Solar Flares Are Hotter Than Expected, Could Reach 108 Million Degrees
A groundbreaking study shows ions in solar flares can reach 108 million°F, about six times hotter than earlier estimates. The research explains decades-old mysteries in flare spectra and urges new “multi-temperature” models to better forecast space weather, protecting satellites, astronauts, and communications from hazardous solar storms.
-
NASA and NOAA Set to Launch Solar Probes for Space Weather Forecasting
In Sept. 2025, NASA and NOAA will launch three spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 to the Sun–Earth L1 point. IMAP will map the heliosphere’s edge, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory will study Earth’s exosphere, and SWFO-L1 will deliver real-time solar storm warnings. Together, they aim to improve space-weather science and safeguard technology on...
-
Astronomers Capture Sharpest-Ever Solar Flare Images with NSF’s DKIST Telescope
Astronomers have achieved a major breakthrough by capturing the sharpest images of a solar flare ever recorded, using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST). Observed at the hydrogen-alpha wavelength during the decay of an X1.3-class solar flare, the images unveiled hundreds of ultra-fine coronal loops averagin...
-
Researcher Photographs Giant Solar Tornado and Massive Plasma Eruption at the Same Time
On August 20, researcher Maximilian Teodorescu captured a rare photo of two dramatic solar events — a giant tornado of plasma rising 130,000 km and an eruptive prominence spanning 200,000 km. Both were shaped by the sun’s unstable magnetic fields. While the prominence did release a CME, it is not aimed at Earth.
-
Rare Giant Solar Tornado and Plasma Eruption Captured Together on the Sun
A Romanian researcher captured a rare sight on the Sun — a giant solar tornado alongside a massive plasma eruption. Both events, driven by magnetic field changes, highlight the Sun’s extreme activity during solar maximum. Luckily, the eruption’s CME is not headed toward Earth.
-
NASA Launches AI Model To Understand Solar Eruptions, Predict Space Weather
NASA is raising the bar in solar science with the debut of the Surya Heliophysics Foundational Model, an artificial intelligence system built to decode the Sun's complex behavior.
-
NASA’s PUNCH Mission Completes Final Orbit Manoeuvres, Opens Early Sun Data to the Public
NASA’s PUNCH mission has reached full operational status, enabling continuous monitoring of the Sun and solar wind from multiple vantage points around Earth. This collaborative effort complements other major solar missions and promises valuable insights into the Sun–Earth connection. Early public release of PUNCH’s science data marks an excit...
-
NASA's TRACERS Satellites Begin Solar Wind Study Despite SV1 Glitch
NASA launched its twin TRACERS satellites on July 23, 2025, to study how solar wind causes magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetosphere. However, a power issue on one spacecraft, SV1, has caused intermittent communication. Engineers believe the issue relates to sunlight availability on its solar panels and plan recovery efforts in August. Meanwhi...
-
Sun Erupts with Triple Solar Flares After Weeks of Silence
After a 22-day period of solar calm, the Sun unleashed three M-class solar flares on August 3–4, 2025, all originating from active sunspot region AR 4168. These moderate flares released intense radiation, capable of briefly disrupting high-frequency radio signals and potentially sparking auroras at high latitudes. Scientists also detected likel...
-
Solar Sail Spacecraft Could Boost Space Weather Warnings by Nearly 60 Minutes
A solar sail spacecraft could extend space weather warnings from 40 to 60 minutes, offering vital lead time before solar storms strike. Part of the SWIFT mission, this satellite will orbit farther than any current monitor, using sunlight for propulsion. The system aims to better protect satellites, astronauts, and power grids from geomagnetic disru...
-
NASA’s Solar Observatory Sees Two Eclipses in One Day
In a rare celestial event, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured two eclipses on July 25, 2025. First, at 2:45 UTC, the Moon passed between SDO and the Sun, covering about 62% of the solar disk. Just hours later, around 6:30 UTC, Earth itself blocked the Sun entirely from SDO’s perspective. These dual eclipses occurred during SDO’s...
-
NASA’s TRACERS Mission Successfully Launches to Explore Earth’s Magnetic Field and Solar Wind Interactions
NASA's latest launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base saw the TRACERS mission successfully lift off, one day after a delay due to FAA airspace restrictions. The mission promises valuable insights into solar wind interactions and space weather impacts.
