In 2008 in the northern hemisphere of the sun (left) Hinode observed large patches of negative polarity, shown in orange. In 2011, the same area showed much smaller patches and a more even distribution...
(multimedia) Astronomers believe sound was the result of a daytime shooting star. Coinciding with this story: If the weather was clear after midnight Saturday night and if the Lyridmeteor shower of 2012 was good to...
The mystery surrounding the source of the highest-energy particles known in the Universe has grown deeper. The particles, known as cosmic rays, can show up with energies a million times higher than the biggest...
(multimedia) A solar flare erupted along the sun’s left side on Monday. The flare was recorded by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft, which is part of a 5-year mission focused on the sun. (April...
In order to understand the phenomenon called a ‘perigean spring tide,’ you first have to know that the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun cause tides. Tides are actually long-period waves that roll...
Mark your calendars! On June 5-6, a rare celestial event called a transit of Venus will take place, and it won’t be repeated in your lifetime. During the transit, Venus will pass directly in front of...
Moon’s shadow causes winds to slow, alter direction, study says. The inky shadows of solar eclipses can alter local weather on small scales, according to new analysis of a 1999 total eclipse. Solar eclipses occur when...
(multimedia) A giant solar tornado – five times the Earth’s diameter – swirling at incredible speed of some 186,000 mph has been captured on video by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. This is the first time...
(multimedia) A key NASA instrument that can directly measure the impact of solar events on the Earth’s upper atmosphere has weighed in on the huge flare that impacted Earth last week. The flare was...
The sun is continuing its active streak this week, firing off another solar flare late Thursday (March 8) from the same region that produced this week’s strong solar storm. An M6.3-class solar flare —...
