This is an AI Free Zone: Text created by Large Language Models is spreading across the Internet. It's well-written, but frequently inaccurate. If you find a mistake on Spaceweather.com, rest assured it was made by a real human being.
|
|
|
THE SUN IS FLATLINING: With no sunspots actively flaring, the sun's X-ray output has flatlined. The quiet is likely to continue for at least another 24 hours. NOAA forecasters say there is no more than a 1% chance of M- or X-class solar flares on Feb. 24th. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
WHERE HAVE ALL THE SUNSPOTS GONE? Click on this image and take a careful look around the solar disk. Can you find any sunspots? We can't either:
This week has brought the first "spotless days" since 2022. So far, Feb. 22nd and Feb. 23rd have had completely blank suns. There have been no sunspots on the solar disk, breaking an uninterrupted 4 years of non-stop sunspot activity.
What does this mean? It's an early warning of Solar Minimum, the low point of the 11-year solar cycle. During years around Solar Minimum, whole months can go by without a single sunspot, racking up dozens of spotless days in a row. Between 2018 and 2020 (the last Solar Minimum) there were more than 700 spotless days in total. You can find the daily counts right here on Spaceweather.com.
Solar Cycle 25 still has years of life left in it. However, these spotless days tell us that the current cycle is waning. Sunspots will be back--probably tomorrow--but today is a preview of things to come.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
"ALWAYS AND FOREVER" RUBY PENDANT: Are you looking for a far out gift? Consider the Always and Forever Ruby Pendent. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $219.95. Engraved with the words "I love you always and forever", this sterling silver pendant has a heart-shaped ruby crystal in the middle surrouunded by a ring of glittering 5A cubic zirconia nuggets. It is a visually striking necklace perfect for anniversaries and romantic birthdays.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1956 GROUND LEVEL EVENT: It doesn't have a catchy name, and most people have never heard of it. Yet space scientist Clive Dyer of the Surrey Space Centre can't stop worrying about 'GLE05'--a major solar radiation storm in 1956.
"This week is the 70th anniversary of that extreme space weather event," says Dyer. "If it happened again today, it would have a significant impact on air travel and modern technology."
Above: A drawing of the giant sunspot that caused the Feb. 23, 1956, GLE. [Source]
On Feb. 23, 1956, radiation sensors around the world suddenly went haywire as radiation levels spiked to values as much as 50 times normal. No one had ever seen anything like it. "The increase was so dramatic that some observers switched-off their monitors believing them to be malfunctioning," says Dyer.
The radiation came from "McMath Region 3400"--an enormous sunspot spanning 60° in solar longitude, which flared shortly before the particles arrived. Normally, our atmosphere would harmlessly absorb the radiation, but not this time. Solar particles penetrated all the way to the ground.
"We call this a Ground Level Enhancement (GLE)," explains Dyer, "This was the biggest of the modern era, and even today nothing has come close to matching it." (A widely publicized GLE last November only amounted to 2% of the 1956 event.)
According to Dyer's calculations, GLE05 would have delivered as much as 10 millisieverts of radiation to passengers on a high-altitude transatlantic flights--comparable to multiple chest CT scans in a few hours. The effect on satellites might have been significant except for one thing: There were no satellites. Sputnik wouldn't be launched until the next year.
How times have changed. in 2026, Earth is surrounded by a swarm of more than 10,000 active satellites with electronics so sensitive that even a single particle of "hard radiation" can reboot onboard computers or or burn out memory locations.
"Such energetic particle events are nearly impossible to shield," says Dyer. "We need to be prepared--not if but when this happens again."
Happy Anniversary!
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Every night, a network
of
NASA
all-sky cameras scans the skies above the United
States for meteoritic fireballs. Automated software
maintained by NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office
calculates their orbits, velocity, penetration depth
in Earth's atmosphere and many other characteristics.
Daily results are presented here on Spaceweather.com.
On Feb. 23 2026, the network reported 5 fireballs.
(5 sporadics)
In this diagram of the inner solar system, all of the fireball orbits intersect at a single point--Earth. The orbits are color-coded by velocity, from slow (red) to fast (blue).
[Larger image] [movies]
Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (
PHAs)
are space rocks larger than approximately 100m that
can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU. None of the
known PHAs is on a collision course with our planet,
although astronomers are finding
new
ones all the time.
On February 24, 2026 there were 2349 potentially hazardous asteroids.
 |
Recent
& Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters:
| Asteroid |
Date(UT) |
Miss Distance |
Velocity (km/s) |
Diameter (m) |
| 2026 DL1 |
2026-Feb-19 |
3.2 LD |
14.5 |
32 |
| 2023 CM2 |
2026-Feb-19 |
10.1 LD |
11.9 |
22 |
| 2026 CA2 |
2026-Feb-19 |
11.1 LD |
8.8 |
34 |
| 2026 DW |
2026-Feb-19 |
10.4 LD |
3.8 |
12 |
| 2026 CZ3 |
2026-Feb-20 |
6.7 LD |
17.8 |
27 |
| 2026 BQ8 |
2026-Feb-20 |
12.2 LD |
6.2 |
67 |
| 2026 CO |
2026-Feb-20 |
4.5 LD |
7.5 |
27 |
| 2026 AH17 |
2026-Feb-20 |
11.3 LD |
7.3 |
76 |
| 2025 YU15 |
2026-Feb-21 |
15.4 LD |
9.5 |
132 |
| 2026 DY |
2026-Feb-21 |
8.8 LD |
7 |
14 |
| 2025 DQ |
2026-Feb-21 |
3 LD |
6.8 |
4 |
| 2007 DB61 |
2026-Feb-21 |
9 LD |
8.8 |
65 |
| 2026 DX |
2026-Feb-22 |
12.5 LD |
6.4 |
15 |
| 2026 CQ4 |
2026-Feb-22 |
8.8 LD |
6.3 |
11 |
| 2026 DH |
2026-Feb-22 |
9.5 LD |
11.4 |
14 |
| 2026 DN5 |
2026-Feb-22 |
0.1 LD |
8.6 |
2 |
| 2026 CN3 |
2026-Feb-22 |
8.6 LD |
20.5 |
34 |
| 2026 AM4 |
2026-Feb-22 |
17.4 LD |
3.1 |
32 |
| 2026 DK |
2026-Feb-22 |
2.7 LD |
14.4 |
20 |
| 2026 DT |
2026-Feb-22 |
8.4 LD |
4.2 |
10 |
| 2026 DJ |
2026-Feb-22 |
7.4 LD |
12.6 |
15 |
| 2026 CJ1 |
2026-Feb-23 |
13.8 LD |
7.2 |
25 |
| 2026 CW2 |
2026-Feb-23 |
14.6 LD |
8.6 |
29 |
| 2026 DL5 |
2026-Feb-23 |
4.9 LD |
7.3 |
13 |
| 2026 DZ |
2026-Feb-23 |
7.2 LD |
7.6 |
17 |
| 2012 XF55 |
2026-Feb-23 |
16.3 LD |
4 |
98 |
| 2026 BM8 |
2026-Feb-23 |
13.3 LD |
6.4 |
35 |
| 2022 EZ6 |
2026-Feb-24 |
11.6 LD |
6.9 |
73 |
| 2018 RB1 |
2026-Feb-24 |
8.3 LD |
7.9 |
9 |
| 2026 DT5 |
2026-Feb-24 |
1.1 LD |
9.7 |
7 |
| 2026 DD1 |
2026-Feb-25 |
3.9 LD |
7.6 |
9 |
| 2026 CU1 |
2026-Feb-26 |
3.2 LD |
8.4 |
44 |
| 2011 CL50 |
2026-Feb-27 |
13.4 LD |
4.5 |
12 |
| 2026 CR4 |
2026-Feb-27 |
10.6 LD |
17.3 |
54 |
| 2020 FV4 |
2026-Feb-27 |
16.3 LD |
8.7 |
30 |
| 2026 DG1 |
2026-Feb-28 |
7.2 LD |
12.3 |
20 |
| 2007 DG8 |
2026-Feb-28 |
10 LD |
9.9 |
32 |
| 2026 DS5 |
2026-Mar-01 |
6 LD |
17.6 |
19 |
| 2011 EH17 |
2026-Mar-02 |
15.8 LD |
16.5 |
39 |
| 2026 CB3 |
2026-Mar-03 |
13.9 LD |
8.9 |
33 |
| 2026 CX4 |
2026-Mar-03 |
7.6 LD |
12.4 |
43 |
| 2026 CD1 |
2026-Mar-03 |
6.4 LD |
10.9 |
58 |
| 2026 DK4 |
2026-Mar-03 |
7.8 LD |
8.5 |
25 |
| 2026 DA1 |
2026-Mar-04 |
12.9 LD |
1.9 |
18 |
| 2021 ER |
2026-Mar-06 |
6.3 LD |
4 |
14 |
| 2017 BM123 |
2026-Mar-06 |
19.9 LD |
7.2 |
61 |
| 2012 DF31 |
2026-Mar-08 |
13.4 LD |
16 |
43 |
| 2020 GE |
2026-Mar-09 |
16.1 LD |
1.3 |
8 |
| 2025 EK4 |
2026-Mar-10 |
14.7 LD |
10 |
55 |
| 2021 BW1 |
2026-Mar-10 |
14.2 LD |
4.1 |
18 |
| 2023 ET2 |
2026-Mar-11 |
7.8 LD |
12.7 |
3 |
| 2026 CC3 |
2026-Mar-11 |
4.1 LD |
1.7 |
12 |
| 2025 DP3 |
2026-Mar-11 |
9.4 LD |
9.1 |
27 |
| 2007 EG |
2026-Mar-15 |
4.5 LD |
7.8 |
44 |
| 2026 CR3 |
2026-Mar-16 |
19.5 LD |
9.1 |
77 |
| 2015 VO142 |
2026-Mar-17 |
2.7 LD |
3.1 |
6 |
| 2021 FS |
2026-Mar-18 |
18.2 LD |
7.2 |
9 |
| 2010 RA91 |
2026-Mar-22 |
4.7 LD |
9.9 |
68 |
| 2022 FY |
2026-Mar-24 |
10.1 LD |
6.5 |
9 |
| 2025 SP20 |
2026-Mar-25 |
18.8 LD |
11 |
12 |
| 2025 GL |
2026-Apr-03 |
9.8 LD |
6.4 |
5 |
| 2019 FQ1 |
2026-Apr-03 |
9.6 LD |
10.1 |
13 |
| 2023 DZ2 |
2026-Apr-04 |
2.6 LD |
7.2 |
50 |
| 2021 GN6 |
2026-Apr-06 |
5.8 LD |
7 |
14 |
| 2024 TB7 |
2026-Apr-07 |
4.9 LD |
7.5 |
5 |
| 2002 TB70 |
2026-Apr-07 |
13.4 LD |
9.2 |
162 |
| 2022 GE2 |
2026-Apr-10 |
12 LD |
9.2 |
15 |
| 2023 HB4 |
2026-Apr-12 |
16.8 LD |
8.7 |
15 |
| 2013 GM3 |
2026-Apr-14 |
0.7 LD |
7.4 |
20 |
| 2026 AC4 |
2026-Apr-20 |
10.7 LD |
1.2 |
21 |
| 2022 UG2 |
2026-Apr-20 |
16.3 LD |
10.3 |
13 |
| 2025 HQ4 |
2026-Apr-21 |
16.4 LD |
12.5 |
22 |
| 2026 BK2 |
2026-Apr-22 |
10 LD |
8.1 |
212 |
Notes: LD means
"Lunar Distance." 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance
between Earth and the Moon. 1 LD also equals 0.00256
AU.
| |
Cosmic Rays in the Atmosphere |
SPACE WEATHER BALLOON DATA: Almost once a week, Spaceweather.com and the students of Earth to Sky Calculus fly space weather balloons to the stratosphere over California. These balloons are equipped with sensors that detect secondary cosmic rays, a form of radiation from space that can penetrate all the way down to Earth's surface. Our monitoring program has been underway without interruption for 10 years, resulting in a unique dataset of in situ atmospheric measurements.
Latest results (Nov. 2024): Atmospheric radiation is sharply decreasing in 2024. Our latest measurements in November registered a 10-year low:
What's going on? Ironically, the radiation drop is caused by increasing solar activity. Solar Cycle 25 has roared to life faster than forecasters expected. The sun's strengthening and increasingly tangled magnetic field repels cosmic rays from deep space. In addition, solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) sweep aside cosmic rays, causing sharp reductions called "Forbush Decreases." The two effects blend together to bring daily radiation levels down.
.Who cares? Cosmic rays are a surprisingly "down to Earth" form of space weather. They can alter the chemistry of the atmosphere, trigger lightning, and penetrate commercial airplanes. According to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan school of public health, crews of aircraft have higher rates of cancer than the general population. The researchers listed cosmic rays, irregular sleep habits, and chemical contaminants as leading risk factors. A number of controversial studies (#1, #2, #3, #4) go even further, linking cosmic rays with cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
Technical notes: The radiation sensors onboard our helium balloons detect X-rays and gamma-rays in the energy range 10 keV to 20 MeV. These energies span the range of medical X-ray machines and airport security scanners.
Data points in the graph labeled "Stratospheric Radiation" correspond to the peak of the Regener-Pfotzer maximum, which lies about 67,000 feet above central California. When cosmic rays crash into Earth's atmosphere, they produce a spray of secondary particles that is most intense at the entrance to the stratosphere. Physicists Eric Regener and Georg Pfotzer discovered the maximum using balloons in the 1930s and it is what we are measuring today.
| |
The
official U.S. government space weather bureau |
| |
The
first place to look for information about sundogs,
pillars, rainbows and related phenomena. |
| |
Researchers
call it a "Hubble for the sun." SDO
is the most advanced solar observatory ever. |
| |
3D
views of the sun from NASA's Solar and Terrestrial
Relations Observatory |
| |
Realtime
and archival images of the Sun from SOHO. |
| |
information about sunspots based on the latest NOAA/USAF Active Region Summary |
| |
current counts of failed and deployed Starlink satellites from Jonathan's Space Page. See also, all satellite statistics. |
| |
Authoritative predictions of space junk and satellite re-entries |
| |
from
the NOAA Space Environment Center |
| |
fun to read, but should be taken with a grain of salt! Forecasts looking ahead more than a few days are often wrong. |
| |
from the NOAA Space Environment Center |
| |
the
underlying science of space weather |
 |
Got a chipped or cracked windshield that prevents you from seeing space weather events while driving? Get windshield replacement from SR Windows & Glass with free mobile auto glass service anywhere in the Phoenix area. |
| |
These links help Spaceweather.com stay online. Thank you to our supporters! |
|
|
Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers
Onlinecasinoinformatie.com is an expert in comparing foreign online casinos for players in the Netherlands, offering reliable insights, clear reviews, and up-to-date information
Trusted casinos not connected to GamStop
Most Trusted seller for 1:1 super clone watches in the market
Premium quality super clone watches for sale with true 1:1 detailing
Buy Instagram Followers Text: from Smikky!
For the new best Norwegian casinos, visit nyecasino.com
Instant Famous, a reliable provider for followers, likes, and views on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and more.
NonGamstopCasinos.net compares Non Gamstop Casinos and UK Casinos & Betting sites not on Gamstop. Independent casino reviews & exclusive bonus offers for British Gamblers.
Zamsino is one of the most popular online casino guides in the world.
Kiwislots.nz is the best free spins no deposit guide in New Zealand!
Find your best no deposit bonus in Germany at BetterBonus
Adlerslots hat die besten neuen Boni ohne Einzahlung in Deutschland für dich zusammengestellt!
BonusZonderStorting.com is de nummer 1 site om online casino's zonder storting in Nederland te vergelijken.
Vind de nieuwste free spins-aanbiedingen ter wereld op Leeuwslots.com.
Visit prestigewatches for best super clone watches and rolex replica for sale
|
| |
|
|
|
