 | | Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica Credit: NOAA/Ovation Planetary K-index Now: Kp= 1.67 quiet 24-hr max: Kp= 3.00 quiet explanation | more data Interplanetary Mag. Field Btotal: 6.34 nT Bz: -3.90 nT south more data: ACE, DSCOVR Updated: Today at 1147 UT Coronal Holes: 28 Sep 24  There are no significant equatorial coronal holes on the Earth-facing side of the sun. Credit: SDO/AIA Polar Stratospheric Clouds Colorful Type II polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) form when the temperature in the stratosphere drops to a staggeringly low -85C. NASA's MERRA-2 climate model predicts when the air up there is cold enough:  On Sep. 28, 2024, the Arctic stratosphere is much too warm for Type II polar stratospheric clouds. | more data. Noctilucent Clouds The northern season for NLCs is underway--but not for long. The first clouds were detected inside the Arctic Circle on May 25, 2024, by the NOAA 21 satellite. After peaking in July, the clouds are now in rapid decline. This is typical for the month of August, which usually brings the end of NLC season in the northern hemisphere.  Updated: Aug. 28, 2024 An instrument onboard NOAA 21 (OMPS LP) is able to detect NLCs (also known as "polar mesospheric clouds" or PMCs). In the daily map, above, each dot is a detected cloud. As the season progresses, these dots will multiply in number and shift in hue from blue to red as the brightness of the clouds intensifies. SPACE WEATHER NOAA Forecasts | | Updated at: 2024 Sep 28 2200 UTC FLARE | 0-24 hr | 24-48 hr | CLASS M | 55 % | 55 % | CLASS X | 10 % | 10 % | Geomagnetic Storms: Probabilities for significant disturbances in Earth's magnetic field are given for three activity levels: active, minor storm, severe storm Updated at: 2024 Sep 28 2200 UTC Mid-latitudes | 0-24 hr | 24-48 hr | ACTIVE | 30 % | 20 % | MINOR | 10 % | 05 % | SEVERE | 01 % | 01 % | High latitudes | 0-24 hr | 24-48 hr | ACTIVE | 15 % | 15 % | MINOR | 30 % | 25 % | SEVERE | 40 % | 25 % | | | |  | | | | | | | | This is an AI Free Zone! Text created by Large Language Models is spreading rapidly across the Internet. It's well-written, artificial, frequently inaccurate. If you find a mistake on Spaceweather.com, rest assured it was made by a real human being. | | | QUIET CONDITIONS CONTINUE: No CMEs are heading for Earth and no sunspots are actively flaring. As a result, space weather is expected to be quiet for the second day in a row. This forecast could quickly change if a new sunspot emerging from behind the sun's southeastern limb suddenly erupts. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text COMET TSUCHINSHAN-ATLAS IS HEADING FOR EARTH: Yesterday, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) made its closest approach to the sun. Now, its heading for Earth. Michael Mattiazzo photographed the comet on Sept. 27th rising over Lake Boga in Victoria, Australia:  Mattiazzo's time-lapse shows how minutes matter. The comet rises just before the sun. As it climbs out of low clouds and haze, the surrounding sky brightens rapidly. Actually seeing the comet with the human eye requires a short-lived combination of rising altitude and waning darkness. "Using 8x40mm binoculars, I estimate the comet's magnitude was +2.8 with a 7 degree tail," says Mattiazzo. "It was naked-eye visible, but not yet conspicuous. This will change over the next couple of weeks when, on Oct. 12, the comet has an Earth approach of only 70 million kms (0.43 AU)," he adds. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS could become very bright indeed. On Oct. 9th, it will pass between Earth and the sun. Sunlight forward scattered by comet dust will amplify the comet's brightness to negative magnitudes. If the most optimistic predictions ( m < -5.0) come true, it could be visible even in broad daylight like Comet McNaught in 2007. Kai Yuan of Zhejiang, China, took this picture of himself and the comet just before sunrise on Sept: 28th:  more images: from Yuri Beletsky of Las Campanas Observatory, Chile; from Ian Griffin of Mount John, South Island, New Zealand; from Jordi L. Coy of Santa Pola, Alicante, Spain; from Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau of Rafaela, Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina; Realtime Comet Photo Gallery Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter ASTRONAUT SNOOPY COFFEE CUP: Coffee tastes better in a cup that's been to space. On July 16th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched the 'I Need My Space' Snoopy mug to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. Here it is floating more than 105,315 feet above Earth's surface:  You can have it for $99.95. It's Peanuts for a cup from space! The students are selling Snoopy cups to support their cosmic ray monitoring program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the cup 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 Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter Realtime Noctilucent Cloud 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 Sep 28, 2024, the network reported 11 fireballs. (11 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 September 28, 2024 there were 2349 potentially hazardous asteroids.  | Recent & Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters: Asteroid | Date(UT) | Miss Distance | Velocity (km/s) | Diameter (m) | 2024 ST | 2024-Sep-23 | 0.3 LD | 11.7 | 4 | 2024 SH | 2024-Sep-23 | 16.3 LD | 11.7 | 41 | 2024 SM3 | 2024-Sep-24 | 12.1 LD | 12.8 | 27 | 2020 GE | 2024-Sep-24 | 1.7 LD | 2.2 | 8 | 2024 SN1 | 2024-Sep-24 | 2.4 LD | 15.9 | 12 | 2024 SV1 | 2024-Sep-24 | 10 LD | 6.3 | 24 | 2024 RO11 | 2024-Sep-24 | 19.2 LD | 19.1 | 39 | 2024 SP | 2024-Sep-24 | 5.1 LD | 6.4 | 6 | 2024 SY | 2024-Sep-24 | 6.3 LD | 6.3 | 10 | 2024 SE3 | 2024-Sep-25 | 1.2 LD | 10.7 | 19 | 2024 SG | 2024-Sep-25 | 2.9 LD | 8.9 | 13 | 2024 RK7 | 2024-Sep-25 | 17.8 LD | 6.3 | 32 | 2024 SZ2 | 2024-Sep-25 | 12.6 LD | 14.2 | 24 | 2024 SF | 2024-Sep-25 | 12.1 LD | 23.1 | 55 | 2024 SN | 2024-Sep-26 | 10.2 LD | 6.8 | 12 | 2024 SS1 | 2024-Sep-26 | 0.7 LD | 12.6 | 8 | 2024 RW25 | 2024-Sep-27 | 16.1 LD | 9.8 | 27 | 2024 RP15 | 2024-Sep-27 | 17.6 LD | 9.9 | 29 | 2024 SL2 | 2024-Sep-27 | 15.2 LD | 10.5 | 38 | 2011 ST12 | 2024-Sep-27 | 17.6 LD | 7.4 | 19 | 2024 SM1 | 2024-Sep-27 | 10.3 LD | 7.7 | 9 | 2024 SY2 | 2024-Sep-27 | 19.8 LD | 8.7 | 23 | 2024 SG1 | 2024-Sep-27 | 2.3 LD | 17 | 11 | 2024 SC1 | 2024-Sep-27 | 4 LD | 9.8 | 11 | 2024 SD1 | 2024-Sep-27 | 5.3 LD | 10.1 | 7 | 2024 SB1 | 2024-Sep-28 | 12.8 LD | 8 | 14 | 2024 SE | 2024-Sep-28 | 7.6 LD | 10.9 | 45 | 2024 SR | 2024-Sep-28 | 3.1 LD | 16.9 | 30 | 2024 SQ | 2024-Sep-28 | 3.2 LD | 12.9 | 23 | 2024 SV2 | 2024-Sep-28 | 0.1 LD | 11.5 | 7 | 2024 ST1 | 2024-Sep-28 | 3.9 LD | 16.4 | 11 | 2024 SC3 | 2024-Sep-29 | 5.9 LD | 7.4 | 18 | 2024 SU1 | 2024-Sep-29 | 5 LD | 17.3 | 19 | 2024 SE2 | 2024-Sep-29 | 6.3 LD | 8.8 | 15 | 2024 SK | 2024-Sep-29 | 5.6 LD | 4.4 | 10 | 2024 SC | 2024-Sep-30 | 4.2 LD | 17.8 | 94 | 2024 SX1 | 2024-Sep-30 | 16.4 LD | 5.1 | 17 | 2024 SJ1 | 2024-Oct-01 | 15.2 LD | 10.6 | 16 | 2024 RN15 | 2024-Oct-01 | 8.4 LD | 7.2 | 31 | 2024 RH45 | 2024-Oct-01 | 5 LD | 8.2 | 37 | 2024 RO2 | 2024-Oct-02 | 4.2 LD | 9.2 | 37 | 2024 RJ16 | 2024-Oct-02 | 18.2 LD | 6.9 | 24 | 2024 SS | 2024-Oct-02 | 5.7 LD | 7.5 | 26 | 2024 SD3 | 2024-Oct-03 | 3.9 LD | 18.2 | 22 | 2024 SR1 | 2024-Oct-04 | 5.7 LD | 5.9 | 13 | 2024 RJ32 | 2024-Oct-05 | 7.7 LD | 6.6 | 45 | 2024 SL3 | 2024-Oct-05 | 8.2 LD | 12.6 | 19 | 2023 GM1 | 2024-Oct-05 | 15.4 LD | 5.2 | 13 | 2024 SZ1 | 2024-Oct-05 | 11 LD | 20.2 | 37 | 2014 VA | 2024-Oct-05 | 18.1 LD | 6.3 | 46 | 2024 SH3 | 2024-Oct-05 | 18.9 LD | 8.2 | 26 | 2022 SU21 | 2024-Oct-06 | 17.5 LD | 21.1 | 45 | 671076 | 2024-Oct-07 | 12.8 LD | 8.6 | 120 | 2016 JG38 | 2024-Oct-08 | 13.2 LD | 12 | 56 | 2018 QE | 2024-Oct-09 | 1.7 LD | 4.4 | 10 | 2024 SM | 2024-Oct-10 | 7.4 LD | 6.7 | 30 | 363027 | 2024-Oct-12 | 9.3 LD | 16.6 | 419 | 2020 GE1 | 2024-Oct-12 | 20.1 LD | 4.3 | 14 | 2022 UX1 | 2024-Oct-12 | 19.9 LD | 9.9 | 9 | 2008 UU95 | 2024-Oct-12 | 13.5 LD | 15.6 | 66 | 2021 TK11 | 2024-Oct-14 | 8 LD | 10.6 | 7 | 2022 TB41 | 2024-Oct-15 | 10 LD | 6 | 4 | 2024 SD2 | 2024-Oct-16 | 10.1 LD | 6.1 | 28 | 2019 UH14 | 2024-Oct-17 | 8.3 LD | 10.4 | 62 | 2024 RV50 | 2024-Oct-18 | 19.4 LD | 15.6 | 210 | 2024 SH1 | 2024-Oct-20 | 6.4 LD | 2.7 | 14 | 2015 HM1 | 2024-Oct-24 | 14.4 LD | 10.9 | 32 | 363305 | 2024-Oct-24 | 11.8 LD | 4.9 | 186 | 2021 UE2 | 2024-Oct-24 | 13.6 LD | 7.1 | 40 | 2023 TG14 | 2024-Oct-24 | 6.6 LD | 6.9 | 24 | 2007 UT3 | 2024-Oct-26 | 17.7 LD | 10.4 | 23 | 2020 WG | 2024-Oct-28 | 8.7 LD | 9.4 | 160 | 2021 CV1 | 2024-Oct-30 | 14.4 LD | 23.6 | 38 | 2023 KX3 | 2024-Oct-31 | 18.8 LD | 2.4 | 25 | 2022 UD21 | 2024-Oct-31 | 11.4 LD | 11.8 | 27 | 2016 VA | 2024-Nov-01 | 1.5 LD | 21.2 | 11 | 2023 VS | 2024-Nov-04 | 15.2 LD | 4.3 | 4 | 2022 JM | 2024-Nov-06 | 19.7 LD | 6.2 | 6 | 2019 WB7 | 2024-Nov-11 | 17.3 LD | 5.7 | 47 | 2020 UL3 | 2024-Nov-12 | 4.1 LD | 10.5 | 81 | 2020 AB2 | 2024-Nov-13 | 18.9 LD | 7.2 | 14 | 2019 VU5 | 2024-Nov-14 | 12 LD | 23.3 | 46 | 2019 VL5 | 2024-Nov-14 | 9.6 LD | 8.5 | 24 | 2023 WK3 | 2024-Nov-18 | 16.1 LD | 14.5 | 272 | 2012 KO11 | 2024-Nov-20 | 6.2 LD | 9.4 | 43 | 2020 VX4 | 2024-Nov-20 | 10.5 LD | 10.5 | 11 | 2009 WB105 | 2024-Nov-25 | 15.1 LD | 18.9 | 71 | 2006 WB | 2024-Nov-26 | 2.3 LD | 4.2 | 98 | 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 7 years, resulting in a unique dataset of in situ atmospheric measurements. Latest results (July 2022): Atmospheric radiation is decreasing in 2022. Our latest measurements in July 2022 registered a 6-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. |  | BestCSGOGambling is the best site for everything related to CSGO gambling on the web | | These links help Spaceweather.com stay online. Thank you to our supporters! | | | | | | | |  | |  |  | ©2021 Spaceweather.com. All rights reserved. This site is penned daily by Dr. Tony Phillips. | |