solar-physics

The sun regularly releases powerful bursts of radiation and charged particles into space. When these eruptions reach Earth, they can disrupt satellites, power grids, radio communications and other technology. One famous example occurred in 1859. Known as the Carrington Event, this enormous solar storm created auroras as far south as the Caribbean and caused sparks […] The post The Sun’s Biggest S…

[Royal Astronomical Society] It is thought the Sun may have engulfed a super-Earth-sized planet early in its history. Now a new study has gone a step further by suggesting that […] The post Fingerprints Inside Our Sun Could Reveal If It Once Swallowed A Planet appeared first on Astrobiology .

[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]. Radiation from space is constantly entering Earth’s atmosphere, but how much of it reaches the altitudes used by commercial aircraft depends not only on height and […] The post Cosmic Radiation at Flight Altitudes Rises When the Sun Is Less Active appeared first on Astrobiology .

I am sure this varies given the distance from moon to earth varies, but a range would be sufficient. I am trying to explain to a flat earther how there is not a lunar eclipse every full moon. My approach is to show that the 5 percent inclination of the moon's orbit to the ecliptic will result in a large enough gap for the umbra to miss the moon when projected at a great distance.

New research suggests that giant sunspots may give the Sun the ability to produce rare and powerful superflares.

The largest solar telescope in the world captured swirling plasma structures on the sun’s surface. Take a look.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe completed its 29th close approach to the Sun on Sept. 4, again matching its record speed and distance from the solar surface. This time, the spacecraft trained its camera on structures and activity near the Sun’s north pole. The spacecraft transmitted a beacon tone indicating that its systems were operating normally […] The post After Latest Swing Past Sun, NASA’s Parker…

Ancient meteorite minerals reveal a surprisingly strong magnetic field from the solar system’s first 200,000 years. About 4.6 billion years ago, before the Sun and planets existed in their familiar forms, the solar system was a vast cloud of gas and dust. Within a few million years, this “solar nebula” collapsed and flattened into a [...]

Astronomers watched the Sun’s surface in incredible detail for 3 minutes and saw for the first time evidence of a fundamental fluid process. Credit: NSF/NSO/AURA/MPS , CC BY 4.0

Vein scans, ultra-hot physics, and Earth observations were the main research activities aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 75 crew members rounded out their mid-week shift and swapped out spacesuit components and serviced life support gear. The post Crew Studies Medicine and Physics, Works on Spacesuits and Earth Photo Gear appeared first on NASA Science .

IntroductionObservations show that many filaments and hot channels undergo large- angle rotations during eruptions. Such rotations can modify the southward magnetic-field component (Bz) of the resulting coronal mass ejections (CMEs), thereby influencing their geo-effectiveness. Understanding the mechanisms of the flux-rope rotation is therefore important for improving space-weather forecasting.Me…

Nature Astronomy, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02914-6 BepiColombo’s flyby at just 165 km from Mercury observed sustained precipitation of energetic solar protons and electrons onto the planet’s surface, with potentially long-term impact on its weathering and mineralogy.

Genesis reached Utah with its solar-wind samples, but a design error prevented its parachutes from opening. Scientists recovered useful measurements from the broken collectors.

A solar storm reaching Earth may create northern lights displays across parts of the northern United States.

Out in the solar system, there is a giant rippling curtain of charged particles that is actually the largest structure in our solar system. Known as the Heliospheric Current Sheet (HCS), it marks the spot where the sun flips its magnetic north and south poles, and grows directly out of giant, glowing loops of plasma on its surface called helmet streamers. However, so far, studies of it have only …

At the center of our solar system, the sun influences every planet that orbits it. In two recent studies, scientists uncovered how ancient events in the sun’s history may have helped create Earth’s unique climate and driven previously unexplained climatic shifts. In new research, scientists at NASA’s SHIELD (Solar Wind with Hydrogen Ion charge Exchange […]

The 400-to-one coincidence is rounded, changeable and temporary. Its near-match hides the photosphere closely enough to expose the Sun's faint inner corona.

A spacecraft on a mission to Mercury successfully detached from its British-manufactured propulsion system yesterday, initiating the final phase of arrival following an eight-year voyage through the solar system. The BepiColombo probe, operated jointly by the European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, jettisoned its Mercury Transfer Module on Thursday as it approached the inner…