 |
| (NASA image) |
UPDATE: NOAA has issued a geomagnetic storm watch for August 18-19, based on the cumulative effects of several small coronal mass ejections grazing Earth's magnetic field. The storm could reach a strong (G3) level. (Tnx Spaceweather)
As Sunspot Cycle 25 continues to ramp up, the sun is getting more and more active in ways that affect radio propagation here on Earth.
According to Spaceweather.com, the sun on August 14 sent a plume of “dark plasma” into space after a huge explosion around sunspot AR3076. That resulted in a coronal mass ejection (CME) that will at least partially impact Earth and could touch off minor to moderate geomagnetic storms.
On July 23, Spaceweather reported on a CME that touched off auroras that were visible as far south as Virginia, as well as the poorly-understood (but entertainingly named) ribbon of light known as “STEVE.”
