 |
| |
Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/Ovation
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp=
2.33 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 6.67 storm
explanation | more
data
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 6.81 nT
Bz: -3.59 nT south
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0847 UT
Coronal Holes: 02 Oct 25
Earth is inside a stream of solar wind flowing from this broad coronal hole. Credit: NASA/SDO | more data
Polar Stratospheric Clouds
Colorful Type II polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) form when the temperature in the stratosphere drops to a staggeringly low -85C. NASA's MERRA-2 climate model predicts when the air up there is cold enough:
On Sep 30, 2025, the Arctic stratosphere is too hot for polar stratospheric clouds. | more data.
Noctilucent Clouds
The northern season for noctilucent clouds is underway. First reports of the electric-blue clouds came from Russia on May 28, 2025. Since then, the clouds have spread to lower latitudes, reaching Paris, France, during a major outbreak on June 23, 2025. The seson is ending in an interesting way. Usually the clouds vanish in August, but they have persisted and sometimes been quite storng as August comes to an end.
Above: Aug. 21, 2025, Björköby, Finland
"These late season noctilucent clouds drifted in front of the crescent moon. It was quite beautiful," says photographer Sebastian Sainio.
See the complete NLC Photo Gallery
SPACE WEATHER
NOAA Forecasts |
|
Updated at: 2025 Oct 01 2200 UTC
FLARE |
0-24
hr |
24-48
hr |
CLASS M |
60
% |
60
% |
CLASS X |
15
% |
15
% |
Geomagnetic Storms:
Probabilities for significant
disturbances in Earth's magnetic field are given for three activity levels: active, minor
storm, severe
storm
Updated at: 2025 Oct 01 2200 UTC
Mid-latitudes
|
0-24
hr |
24-48
hr |
ACTIVE |
45
% |
40
% |
MINOR |
25
% |
20
% |
SEVERE |
05
% |
01
% |
High latitudes
|
0-24
hr |
24-48
hr |
ACTIVE |
10
% |
10
% |
MINOR |
25
% |
35
% |
SEVERE |
65
% |
50
% |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
This is an AI Free Zone: Text created by Large Language Models is spreading across the Internet. It's well-written, but frequently inaccurate. If you find a mistake on Spaceweather.com, rest assured it was made by a real human being.
|
|
|
CHANCE OF STRONG FLARES: Don't be surprised if there's an X-flare today. Two sunspots (4232 and 4236) have unstable delta-class magnetic fields, and both are facing Earth. Shortwave radio blackouts and geoeffective CMEs are likely if an explosion occurs. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
COMET 3I/ATLAS HAS REACHED MARS: Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is approaching Mars for a close encounter on October 3rd. The Mars Fleet is ready. "We're about to get our best-ever look at an interstellar comet," says physicist T. Marshall Eubanks from Space Initiatives Inc, who is helping coordinate the international spacecraft teams.
As many as 6 spacecraft could get a close-up view: NASA’s MAVEN and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, ESA's Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, the UAE's Hope probe, and China's Tianwen-1.
Because 3I/ATLAS is now invisible from Earth as it swings behind the sun (a blackout that will last until December) Martian spacecraft may provide the only high-quality spectra and images of the comet at its brightest. "The fleet at Mars could deliver the definitive dataset," write Eubanks and colleagues, who authored a new study urging space agencies to seize this opportunity.
When the comet passes Mars on Oct. 3rd, it will be almost bright enough to see with human eyes--about magnitude +6.7, according to Eubanks. If only humans were there to see it. Spacecraft will have to do all the work. The comet will be 0.195 AU (29 million km) from the Red Planet, giving the orbiting fleet a ringside seat.
 Of all the cameras involved, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's HiRISE will deliver the sharpest images: 29 km per pixel. HiRISE should resolve the comet's atmosphere (coma) with more than 850 pixels. Researchers will be on the edge of their seats to see if the camera can also glimpse the nucleus hidden within the gas cloud. Photographing the core could put to rest internet rumors that it is "alien tech."
For Eubanks, getting the maximum amount of data is a labor of love. "I have worked on this very intensively since July," says Eubanks. "As my wife would tell you, we have no funding source for this."
Mars is getting big in the window. Let the observing begin!
THE GEOMAGNETIC STORM CONTINUES: Earth's magnetic field has been vibrating for 4 consecutive days--a remarkably long-lasting geomagnetic storm. Last night, Valentin Grigore photographed the light show from Tromso, Norway:
"This outburst appeared on Oct. 1st," says Grigore. "I am leading a group of 17 Romanians to Norway to observe the auroras. I never imagined we would be able to see such a spectacular aurora storm so many nights in a row."
Thank the Russell-McPherron effect. During weeks around equinoxes, the magnetic field of the sun can connect itself to the magnetic field of the Earth. Under these circumstances, even slight gusts of solar wind ignite auroras.
Current solar wind speeds are anything but slight, with gusts topping 600 km/s. NOAA forecasters say G2-class geomagnetic storms are likely on Oct. 2nd. Five days in a row, anyone? Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
CONSTELLATION CAT NIGHT LIGHT: It's the most far-out feline night light ever--the Constellation Cat Crystal Ball. On April 23, 2025, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a giant helium balloon.
You can have it for $139.95. Outlined by stars in the style of an astronomical constellation, the laser-etched cat comes with an LED stand that produces a soothing glow for your bedside table. Also included: A unique greeting card shows the crystal ball in flight and tells the story of its journey to the edge of space.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Every night, a network
of NASA
all-sky cameras scans the skies above the United
States for meteoritic fireballs. Automated software
maintained by NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office
calculates their orbits, velocity, penetration depth
in Earth's atmosphere and many other characteristics.
Daily results are presented here on Spaceweather.com.
On Oct 01, 2025, the network reported 24 fireballs.
(24 sporadics)
In this diagram of the inner solar system, all of the fireball orbits intersect at a single point--Earth. The orbits are color-coded by velocity, from slow (red) to fast (blue).
[Larger image] [movies]
Potentially Hazardous Asteroids ( PHAs)
are space rocks larger than approximately 100m that
can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU. None of the
known PHAs is on a collision course with our planet,
although astronomers are finding new
ones all the time.
On October 2, 2025 there were 2349 potentially hazardous asteroids.
 |
Recent
& Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters:
| Asteroid |
Date(UT) |
Miss Distance |
Velocity (km/s) |
Diameter (m) |
| 2025 SW6 |
2025-Sep-27 |
2.5 LD |
5.7 |
7 |
| 2025 TD |
2025-Sep-27 |
2.2 LD |
7.2 |
12 |
| 2025 SN20 |
2025-Sep-27 |
6.7 LD |
8.7 |
18 |
| 2025 SG15 |
2025-Sep-27 |
0.9 LD |
7.7 |
24 |
| 2025 SA1 |
2025-Sep-28 |
5 LD |
8.7 |
20 |
| 2025 SO20 |
2025-Sep-28 |
0.4 LD |
9.6 |
7 |
| 2025 ST6 |
2025-Sep-28 |
7.4 LD |
20.5 |
29 |
| 2019 SF6 |
2025-Sep-28 |
20 LD |
8.4 |
20 |
| 2025 SB21 |
2025-Sep-28 |
0.6 LD |
8.1 |
2 |
| 2025 SS5 |
2025-Sep-28 |
0.3 LD |
8 |
9 |
| 2025 SC4 |
2025-Sep-29 |
19.3 LD |
5.5 |
23 |
| 2025 RH4 |
2025-Sep-29 |
17.8 LD |
17.2 |
52 |
| 2025 TA |
2025-Sep-29 |
6.8 LD |
8.6 |
18 |
| 2025 SP20 |
2025-Sep-29 |
5 LD |
10.9 |
12 |
| 152664 |
2025-Sep-29 |
10.1 LD |
18.6 |
412 |
| 2023 EH2 |
2025-Sep-30 |
19.8 LD |
17.8 |
51 |
| 2025 SA3 |
2025-Sep-30 |
7 LD |
7.2 |
17 |
| 2025 SX10 |
2025-Sep-30 |
6.6 LD |
3.3 |
9 |
| 2025 SM27 |
2025-Sep-30 |
12 LD |
7.8 |
22 |
| 2025 TE |
2025-Sep-30 |
0.7 LD |
14.9 |
7 |
| 2025 TF |
2025-Oct-01 |
0 LD |
20.9 |
2 |
| 2025 SQ12 |
2025-Oct-01 |
17.1 LD |
12.8 |
32 |
| 2025 SZ |
2025-Oct-01 |
9 LD |
2 |
8 |
| 2025 TB |
2025-Oct-01 |
3.6 LD |
11.9 |
17 |
| 2025 SY21 |
2025-Oct-01 |
4.5 LD |
20.5 |
15 |
| 2025 QL23 |
2025-Oct-01 |
7.1 LD |
10 |
75 |
| 2025 SY |
2025-Oct-02 |
12.2 LD |
5.9 |
14 |
| 2025 TG |
2025-Oct-02 |
5.2 LD |
6.1 |
14 |
| 2025 SH |
2025-Oct-02 |
3.6 LD |
3.7 |
12 |
| 2020 GE1 |
2025-Oct-02 |
13.7 LD |
4.7 |
14 |
| 2025 TC |
2025-Oct-03 |
0.2 LD |
16.2 |
14 |
| 2025 SV6 |
2025-Oct-03 |
4.7 LD |
5 |
13 |
| 2025 RH2 |
2025-Oct-03 |
19.6 LD |
5.1 |
37 |
| 2025 SE29 |
2025-Oct-03 |
12.4 LD |
8.6 |
103 |
| 2025 SZ27 |
2025-Oct-04 |
3.1 LD |
16.4 |
32 |
| 2025 SY10 |
2025-Oct-05 |
15.7 LD |
11.4 |
21 |
| 2025 SO27 |
2025-Oct-05 |
10.3 LD |
6.5 |
12 |
| 2025 SN21 |
2025-Oct-05 |
7.4 LD |
8.3 |
17 |
| 2018 SP1 |
2025-Oct-05 |
13.2 LD |
16.4 |
85 |
| 2025 SJ22 |
2025-Oct-05 |
11.2 LD |
8.4 |
29 |
| 2025 SC24 |
2025-Oct-06 |
11.8 LD |
13.3 |
28 |
| 2025 SH25 |
2025-Oct-06 |
9.3 LD |
12.8 |
16 |
| 2025 SM15 |
2025-Oct-07 |
8 LD |
10.3 |
12 |
| 2025 SJ29 |
2025-Oct-08 |
8.4 LD |
10.4 |
17 |
| 2022 TU1 |
2025-Oct-08 |
16.9 LD |
12.9 |
10 |
| 2020 QU5 |
2025-Oct-09 |
7.1 LD |
13.6 |
26 |
| 2025 SP23 |
2025-Oct-09 |
1.3 LD |
14.8 |
29 |
| 2025 SA21 |
2025-Oct-09 |
9.3 LD |
7.8 |
18 |
| 2025 SP15 |
2025-Oct-09 |
16.4 LD |
8 |
36 |
| 2025 SP29 |
2025-Oct-10 |
9.7 LD |
14.2 |
22 |
| 2025 SN29 |
2025-Oct-10 |
12.5 LD |
9 |
21 |
| 2025 SC29 |
2025-Oct-14 |
14.9 LD |
6.7 |
18 |
| 2022 AY5 |
2025-Oct-14 |
7.4 LD |
8.4 |
5 |
| 2022 UY3 |
2025-Oct-15 |
10.2 LD |
7.4 |
15 |
| 2025 SX26 |
2025-Oct-16 |
8.7 LD |
8.4 |
20 |
| 2025 SQ27 |
2025-Oct-16 |
15.2 LD |
7.5 |
17 |
| 2022 UU15 |
2025-Oct-19 |
14.8 LD |
16.1 |
34 |
| 2025 SD7 |
2025-Oct-21 |
10 LD |
12.6 |
56 |
| 2023 UK3 |
2025-Oct-21 |
6.7 LD |
9 |
5 |
| 2024 GD2 |
2025-Oct-22 |
17.8 LD |
4.2 |
28 |
| 2022 HM1 |
2025-Oct-23 |
15.1 LD |
13.3 |
27 |
| 2012 TP231 |
2025-Oct-25 |
15.2 LD |
6.7 |
37 |
| 2020 FA5 |
2025-Oct-26 |
15.7 LD |
26.5 |
210 |
| 2009 HC |
2025-Oct-26 |
8.6 LD |
4.2 |
39 |
| 434196 |
2025-Oct-27 |
17.4 LD |
10.9 |
171 |
| 2023 VK6 |
2025-Nov-03 |
7.6 LD |
9.6 |
15 |
| 2021 VQ10 |
2025-Nov-08 |
9 LD |
15 |
13 |
| 2019 UH7 |
2025-Nov-08 |
13.3 LD |
5.8 |
11 |
| 2018 KC |
2025-Nov-09 |
16 LD |
9.3 |
11 |
| 2017 WG14 |
2025-Nov-09 |
16.7 LD |
11.7 |
45 |
| 2020 VK4 |
2025-Nov-10 |
16.4 LD |
3.8 |
9 |
| 2012 VC26 |
2025-Nov-11 |
13.3 LD |
6.4 |
6 |
| 2019 VL5 |
2025-Nov-14 |
14.7 LD |
9.1 |
24 |
| 2022 FG4 |
2025-Nov-17 |
18.7 LD |
22.2 |
105 |
| 3361 |
2025-Nov-19 |
14.8 LD |
9.1 |
435 |
| 2013 NJ4 |
2025-Nov-20 |
12.6 LD |
6.4 |
12 |
| 2021 WR |
2025-Nov-22 |
19.3 LD |
10 |
31 |
| 516155 |
2025-Nov-24 |
12.5 LD |
16.7 |
338 |
| 2020 WM |
2025-Nov-24 |
17.4 LD |
11.8 |
36 |
| 2019 UT6 |
2025-Nov-25 |
6.2 LD |
12.6 |
147 |
| 2018 WG2 |
2025-Nov-27 |
13.5 LD |
7.5 |
3 |
Notes: LD means
"Lunar Distance." 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance
between Earth and the Moon. 1 LD also equals 0.00256
AU.
| |
Cosmic Rays in the Atmosphere |
SPACE WEATHER BALLOON DATA: Almost once a week, Spaceweather.com and the students of Earth to Sky Calculus fly space weather balloons to the stratosphere over California. These balloons are equipped with sensors that detect secondary cosmic rays, a form of radiation from space that can penetrate all the way down to Earth's surface. Our monitoring program has been underway without interruption for 10 years, resulting in a unique dataset of in situ atmospheric measurements.
Latest results (Nov. 2024): Atmospheric radiation is sharply decreasing in 2024. Our latest measurements in November registered a 10-year low:
What's going on? Ironically, the radiation drop is caused by increasing solar activity. Solar Cycle 25 has roared to life faster than forecasters expected. The sun's strengthening and increasingly tangled magnetic field repels cosmic rays from deep space. In addition, solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) sweep aside cosmic rays, causing sharp reductions called "Forbush Decreases." The two effects blend together to bring daily radiation levels down.
.Who cares? Cosmic rays are a surprisingly "down to Earth" form of space weather. They can alter the chemistry of the atmosphere, trigger lightning, and penetrate commercial airplanes. According to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan school of public health, crews of aircraft have higher rates of cancer than the general population. The researchers listed cosmic rays, irregular sleep habits, and chemical contaminants as leading risk factors. A number of controversial studies (#1, #2, #3, #4) go even further, linking cosmic rays with cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
Technical notes: The radiation sensors onboard our helium balloons detect X-rays and gamma-rays in the energy range 10 keV to 20 MeV. These energies span the range of medical X-ray machines and airport security scanners.
Data points in the graph labeled "Stratospheric Radiation" correspond to the peak of the Regener-Pfotzer maximum, which lies about 67,000 feet above central California. When cosmic rays crash into Earth's atmosphere, they produce a spray of secondary particles that is most intense at the entrance to the stratosphere. Physicists Eric Regener and Georg Pfotzer discovered the maximum using balloons in the 1930s and it is what we are measuring today.
| |
The
official U.S. government space weather bureau |
| |
The
first place to look for information about sundogs,
pillars, rainbows and related phenomena. |
| |
Researchers
call it a "Hubble for the sun." SDO
is the most advanced solar observatory ever. |
| |
3D
views of the sun from NASA's Solar and Terrestrial
Relations Observatory |
| |
Realtime
and archival images of the Sun from SOHO. |
| |
information about sunspots based on the latest NOAA/USAF Active Region Summary |
| |
current counts of failed and deployed Starlink satellites from Jonathan's Space Page. See also, all satellite statistics. |
| |
Authoritative predictions of space junk and satellite re-entries |
| |
from
the NOAA Space Environment Center |
| |
fun to read, but should be taken with a grain of salt! Forecasts looking ahead more than a few days are often wrong. |
| |
from the NOAA Space Environment Center |
| |
the
underlying science of space weather |
 |
Got a chipped or cracked windshield that prevents you from seeing space weather events while driving? Get windshield replacement from SR Windows & Glass with free mobile auto glass service anywhere in the Phoenix area. |
| |
These links help Spaceweather.com stay online. Thank you to our supporters! |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
©2021 Spaceweather.com. All rights reserved. This site is penned daily by Dr. Tony Phillips. |
