Solar cycle 25 of our massive star resulted in the most intense solar storm in the last 20 years. This behavior caused northern and southern lights in unprecedented latitudes, in which the lights are not usually seen normally. And although many enjoyed the visual spectacle, NASA took advantage of this phenomenon to observe in close-up how the Sun mercilessly shot particles towards the Earth.
How are we alive after this? We have to thank the protective layers of the Earth, which for millennia have served as a shield so that the Sun can be an ally and not a villain, in these constant adventures we call the Solar System. NASA made a video, using various spectra from its space and ground observatories, to capture all the activity of the solar storm.
The experts from Universo Inédito repost a video in which the brutal activity of the Sun can be seen. The images they publish belong to the ESA and NASA Solar Orbiter, strategically located between the Sun and Earth.
“We can see the Sun throwing out clouds of particles, a very strong one if you paid attention to the video. The bright spots are Jupiter and Venus, and in the center is a coronagraph, an instrument that serves to block the Sun's light. Although this solar storm has been the most powerful in two decades, it does not represent a significant threat to humanity. , the experts explained in the Instagram publication.
Solar storm
Yes ok the May 2024 storm was significant, scientists are still comparing it to historical events. According to the Dst index, a measure of the strength of geomagnetic storms, This storm was similar to those of 1958 and 2003. As for the visibility of the auroras, some reports suggest that they could rival those observed at low latitudes over the past 500 years, but this claim is still being evaluated.
Solar storms can have a significant impact on technology, including satellites and power grids. Ahead of the storm, space agencies and infrastructure operators issued alerts and took measures to mitigate possible damage.
In the future, NASA plans to launch new space missions such as the Geospatial Dynamics Constellation and Atmosphere-Ionosphere Neutral Dynamical Coupling to better study the interaction between the Sun and Earth. These missions will provide crucial data to protect astronauts and space infrastructure on future missions to the Moon and Mars.