Today, a significant cosmic event known as the “double solar storm” is scheduled to occur. Earlier this week, NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) detected two separate coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun, both of which are expected to partially impact the Earth. The occurrence of two CMEs is worrisome to researchers as it can intensify the overall strength of the solar storm, leading to unforeseen damage. Read More Business News on our website.
Dr. Tamitha Skov, a renowned space weather scientist popularly known as the “space weather woman,” shared information about the event on Twitter. She mentioned that the first storm, slower in speed, would predominantly head northeast, while the second, faster storm would directly impact Earth. Additionally, she warned of the subsequent arrival of fast solar wind.
Although early predictions indicate the possibility of a minor to moderate solar storm, the exact magnitude remains uncertain. Even if it turns out to be moderate, such solar storms can still cause radio blackouts and disrupt GPS signals, but they are not typically strong enough to impact mobile networks or harm satellites.
Furthermore, following this event, another solar threat is emerging. According to a report from Spaceweather.com, a large sunspot is now becoming visible from the southeastern limb of the Sun. The helioseismic echo from the farside of the Sun suggests that this sunspot could be even larger than the AR3354 group, which previously generated two X-class solar flares.
Let’s also take a moment to learn about the Hinode (Solar-B) satellite. Hinode is a Japanese-led solar mission with the participation of the European Space Agency (ESA). It was launched on September 23, 2006, and remains operational today. The primary objective of this mission is to investigate the mechanisms that drive the solar atmosphere and understand the causes of intense solar eruptions.
Hinode carries three scientific instruments: an optical telescope for imaging the Sun in visible light, an X-ray telescope for capturing Sun images in X-rays, and an extreme ultraviolet imaging spectrometer that measures the intensity of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light emitted by the Sun. These instruments enable scientists to study the generation, transportation, and dissipation of magnetic energy from the Sun’s photosphere to its corona. They also record the release of energy stored in the Sun’s magnetic field as it rises into the outer atmosphere.