Solar Activity
Scientists have achieved a milestone in solar observation by tracking an exceptionally active region on the Sun, NOAA 13664, almost continuously for 94 days using data from two spacecraft. This region, which emerged in April 2024, triggered the strongest geomagnetic storms since 2003 and caused widespread auroras. The extended monitoring reveals how complex magnetic fields drive solar storms with real-world impacts.
Reported by AI
A powerful geomagnetic superstorm struck Earth on May 10-11, 2024, compressing the planet's protective plasmasphere to unprecedented levels. Observations from Japan's Arase satellite revealed the outer edge shrinking from 44,000 km to just 9,600 km above the surface. The event, the strongest in over two decades, also triggered rare auroras in equatorial regions and highlighted recovery challenges due to ionospheric disruptions.