Space Weather & Heliophysics Archives

The variation of Bmax with solar wind dynamic pressure for Venus (left) and Mars (right). For Venus, values derived from magnetized profiles are plotted as black triangles and values derived from unmagnetized profiles are plotted as blue circles. The red lines are power law fits with slopes 0.57±0.13 for Venus (magnetized) and 0.45±0.02 for Mars. -- physics.space-ph

Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Mars, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report, Venus

Properties Of Mars’ Dayside Low-Altitude Induced Magnetic Field And Comparisons With Venus

by Keith CowingDecember 4, 2023December 3, 2023

Our research objective is to characterize Mars’ low-altitude (250 km) induced magnetic fields using data from NASA’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) Mission.

a HAADF image showing region with melt bleb with large vesicles beneath it. b EDS element map shows the bleb is silicate with variable composition of elements including Ti. c HAADF image showing individual pixels in the spectra image. d Low-loss EELS from pixels noted in (c). Solid numbered lines are from pixels within vesicles while dotted lines are from pixels directly beneath each vesicle. Solid black line is from unaltered apatite and shows average low-loss signal for the phase. Spectra from each vesicle offset vertically for clarity. e Map of relative intensity of O pre-peak at 531 eV (median filter) showing the regions with smaller pre-peak around the larger vesicles and the surface region with very sharp pre-peak. The silicate and carbon coat have no pre-peak. f Selected oxygen core-loss spectra summed from regions with similar pre-peak intensity, normalized at 540 eV. The oxygen K-edge EELS show large variation around the vesicles in this region beneath the silicate melt bleb. Dotted lines indicate window used for pre-peak map. -- NRL/Nature

Artemis & Lunar Exploration, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Moon, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics

Hydrogen Detected In Lunar Samples

by Keith CowingNovember 24, 2023November 24, 2023

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) researchers have discovered solar-wind hydrogen in lunar samples, which indicates that water on the surface of the Moon may provide a vital resource for future […]

Ranges of each of our seven line lists over the full NEID wavelength range (3800-9300Å). The wavelengths of the lines in each line list are generally uniformly distributed blueward of ∼6500Å, with a notable gap between 6500-9000Å populated by only a couple of lines. -- astro-ph.EP

Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report

Revisiting e Eridani with NEID: Identifying New Activity-Sensitive Lines in a Young K Dwarf Star

by Keith CowingNovember 20, 2023November 20, 2023

Recent improvements in the sensitivity and precision of the radial velocity (RV) method for exoplanets has brought it close, but not quite to, the threshold (∼10 cm/s) required to detect […]

Confocal fluorescence microscopy images (1000 · ) of halite crystal-embedded cells of Deinococcus radiodurans co-stained with SYTO 9 and PI, showing characteristics of the crystal, the distribution of microorganisms inside fluid inclusions, and potential damage to the membrane. Color composite (SYTO 9 and PI). -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Panspermia, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report

Protective Effects of Halite to Vacuum and Vacuum-Ultraviolet Radiation: A Potential Scenario During a Young Sun Superflare

by Keith CowingNovember 17, 2023November 17, 2023

Halite (NaCl mineral) has exhibited the potential to preserve microorganisms for millions of years on Earth. This mineral was also identified on Mars and in meteorites.

Gamma-ray burst strikes Earth from distant exploding star

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Extinction events, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics

Blast From The Past: Gamma-ray Burst GRB 221009A From A Distant Exploding Star Struck Earth

by Keith CowingNovember 15, 2023November 15, 2023

An enormous burst of gamma rays, detected by ESA’s Integral space telescope, has struck Earth. The blast caused a significant disturbance in our planet’s ionosphere. Such disturbances are usually associated […]

Relations between Hα, X-ray, and white-light energies for solar and stellar flares. (left) The relation between Hα and Bolometric X-ray energies (0.1–100 keV = 0.124–124 ˚A). Data of superflares on the G-dwarf EK Dra detected in this study are represented by red squares. Other solar and stellar data are taken from Kawai et al. (2022). The function fitted to the observational data with a power-law is shown by the cyan line. (right) The relation between bolometric white-light and Hα energies. Data of superflares on the G-dwarf EK Dra, which are associated with filament/prominence eruptions, are represented by filled red squares, whereas those without eruptions are represented by open red squares (this study, Namekata et al. 2022d, Namekata et al. 2022c). For E1, the total energy including the blueshift component is plotted as the upper limit, with the radiative energy of the central component from the two-component fit being plotted as the lower limit. Data of M-dwarf flares are taken from Maehara et al. (2021), Namizaki et al. (2023), and (Notsu et al. 2023). Solar flare data are taken from Namekata et al. (2022a). The function fitted to the observational data, excluding flare E1, with a power-law is shown by the cyan line. -- astro-ph.SR

Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report

Multi-wavelength Campaign Observations of a Young Solar-type Star, EK Draconis I. Discovery of Prominence Eruptions Associated with Superflares

by Keith CowingNovember 15, 2023

Young solar-type stars frequently produce superflares, serving as a unique window into the young Sun-Earth environments. Large solar flares are closely linked to coronal mass ejections (CMEs) associated with filament/prominence […]

Upper left panel: Comparison of our work to the model results of Mikal-Evans (2022) who assumed a cloud-less Archean-Earth. Grey shading indicated the wavelength range of the figure below. Lower left panel: The transmission spectra of TRAPPIST-1e observed with HST/WFC3 during two different transits (see Zhang et al. 2018). The green lines show our wet alive model results during the Carrington-like event (solid lines - scenario [5], dashed lines - scenario [6]), while the blue lines correspond to the Archean-Earth scenario of Mikal-Evans (2022). Right panel: Comparison of the corresponding assumed atmospheric temperature profiles. -- astro-ph.EP

Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1

Impact of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Ion Chemistry and Spectral Transmission Features of TRAPPIST-1e

by Keith CowingNovember 10, 2023November 10, 2023

Ongoing observing projects like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and future missions offer the chance to characterize Earth-like exoplanetary atmospheres. Thereby, M-dwarfs are preferred targets for transit observations, for […]

3D view of a typical simulation setup. SW density distribution (color scale), Earth magnetic field lines (red lines), and Sun magnetic field (pink lines). The bold pink arrows indicate the orientation of the IMF (Southward orientation). The green lines indicate the SW velocity stream lines. -- astro-ph.EP

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Extinction events, Habitable Zones, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report

On Earth’s Habitability Over The Sun’s Main-sequence History: Joint Influence Of Space Weather And Earth’s Magnetic Field Evolution

by Keith CowingNovember 8, 2023

The aim of this study is to analyze the Earth habitability with respect to the direct exposition of the Earth atmosphere to the solar wind along the Sun’s evolution on […]

‘Oumuamua -- Illustration by Samuel Cabot

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Comets and Asteroids, Interstellar, Meteorites & Asteroids, Panspermia, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics

X-rays May Tell Us More About The Origins Of Visiting Space Rocks

by Keith CowingOctober 14, 2023October 14, 2023

A research team led by a Yale astronomer has some advice for our next close encounter with a wandering, interstellar object. Check its X-rays on the way out. Since 2017, […]

Biophysics, Habitable Zones, Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetism, bioelectricity,, Press Release, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics

The Largest Ever Solar Storm Detected In 14,300-year-old Tree Rings

by Keith CowingOctober 11, 2023October 11, 2023

An international team of scientists have discovered a huge spike in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago by analysing ancient tree-rings found in the French Alps.

Space Weather & Heliophysics

Properties Of Mars’ Dayside Low-Altitude Induced Magnetic Field And Comparisons With Venus

Hydrogen Detected In Lunar Samples

Revisiting e Eridani with NEID: Identifying New Activity-Sensitive Lines in a Young K Dwarf Star

Protective Effects of Halite to Vacuum and Vacuum-Ultraviolet Radiation: A Potential Scenario During a Young Sun Superflare

Blast From The Past: Gamma-ray Burst GRB 221009A From A Distant Exploding Star Struck Earth

Multi-wavelength Campaign Observations of a Young Solar-type Star, EK Draconis I. Discovery of Prominence Eruptions Associated with Superflares

Impact of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Ion Chemistry and Spectral Transmission Features of TRAPPIST-1e

On Earth’s Habitability Over The Sun’s Main-sequence History: Joint Influence Of Space Weather And Earth’s Magnetic Field Evolution

X-rays May Tell Us More About The Origins Of Visiting Space Rocks

The Largest Ever Solar Storm Detected In 14,300-year-old Tree Rings

Inspecting A Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DRAMS) Transducer

NASA Explores Potential Commercial Servicing for Hubble Telescope

The Fate of Ice Sheets on Near-Synchronously Rotating Land Planets

Extraterrestrial Chemical Boundary Conditions and Evolutionary Opportunity Space on Early Earth

Complex Organic Molecules in Protostars with ALMA Spectral Surveys (COMPASS) III. CH3OH isotopic fractionation in the low-mass protostar BHR71-IRS1