Looking up at the Northern Lights is breathtaking, but what about the view from above? Astronauts living on the International Space Station enjoy increasing aurora activity from 200 miles above Earth.
Geomagnetic storms caused by eruptions from the Sun are producing colorful aurora borealis, which are expected to dazzle even the northern layers of the United States this week.
On Wednesday, NASA astronaut Bob Hines shared a photograph of the northern lights taken from the space station.
"Absolutely stunning Aurora today," he tweeted. "Thanks to recent solar activity for these spectacular sights." have a great opportunity to witness the show.
Hines and his fellow astronauts weren't the only ones to see the Northern Lights from above.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's polar orbiting satellite NOAA-20 recorded auroras across the northern latitude from space.
On Earth, people in the northern United States are already experiencing green aurora glows from geomagnetic storms.
The top and bottom images were taken in Alberta, Canada, on Wednesday night, where the brightest aurora lights are predicted for Thursday through Friday. I'm here.
The science behind why this week's Northern Lights are so colorful is equally interesting.
Starting on August 14, a series of eruptions began moving toward Earth at speeds of about one million miles per hour, sending NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado, to a Level 3 volcano. Created a geomagnetic storm. warning.
William Murtah of SWPC explains that when these coronal mass ejections blow billion tons of plasma into the Earth's atmosphere, they produce disturbances or geomagnetic storms.
Two eruptions and a second The more significant episodes of , have overtaken the first in space. This event is known as a cannibalistic coronal mass ejection. Below are some compelling shots of his August 15th and His 16th eruptions by NOAA's GOES East satellite using the Solar Ultraviolet Imager.
Most people do not need to worry about the effects of geomagnetic storms. However, NOAA notes that power grid fluctuations can occur, satellite anomalies can occur, and radio and GPS signals can temporarily fail or weaken. warns that there is
"Once you reach levels 4 and 5 (Storm), it can cause considerable problems for many of the technologies we rely on for everything we do today," Murtaugh said. said Mr. "It affects satellites, communication systems and especially power grids."
Most people do not need to worry about the effects of geomagnetic storms. However, NOAA notes that power grid fluctuations may occur, satellite irregularities may occur, and that radio and GPS signals may temporarily fail or weaken. It warns that there is a possibility that
"When levels 4 and 5 are reached (Storm) can cause considerable problems for many of the technologies on which we rely for everything we do today. According to NOAA, this level 3 geomagnetic storm could produce auroras in northern states, and could be seen as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa, and northern Oregon.
Geomagnetic storms can also affect astronauts living on the International Space Station, and eventually on the Moon and Mars.
The Earth's atmosphere protects people on the ground from solar radiation. In low Earth orbit, astronauts are more vulnerable to radiation. This is one of the reasons why space weather is considered by mission control before a NASA astronaut ventures outside his ISS for a spacewalk.
According to the European Space Agency, one week for an astronaut is equivalent to her one year's exposure on Earth. NASA and ESA limit the radiation exposure of astronauts throughout their spaceflight careers.
In July, another geomagnetic storm caused a dazzling light show over North America and even Seattle.
Murtaugh said that as the current solar cycle rises, "very large" level 4 and 5 storms will produce auroral lights as far south as Texas and Florida. I said it is possible.
"It will happen in the coming months and years," Murtagh said.
A typical solar cycle lasts about 11 years, as the Sun's magnetic field is completely reversed, affecting activity on the surface of the star.
