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Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/Ovation
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp=
3.67 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3.67 quiet
explanation | more
data
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 10.49 nT
Bz: -3.57 nT south
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1227 UT
Coronal Holes: 03 Jul 25
Solar wind flowing from this southern coronal hole could reach Earth on July 4-6. 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 Jul 03, 2025, the Arctic stratosphere is much 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.
Above: July 3, 2025, in Czech Republic
"This morning, truly bright NLCs appeared over. The clouds were so bright that I could even see my shadow, and the central part was overexposed. The colors were easily visible to the naked eyes, including the red tint at the upper edge of the clouds. What a display!," says photographer Petr Horálek of Proseč u Seče, Czech Republic.
See the complete NLC Photo Gallery
SPACE WEATHER
NOAA Forecasts |
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Updated at: 2025 Jul 03 2200 UTC
FLARE |
0-24
hr |
24-48
hr |
CLASS M |
20
% |
20
% |
CLASS X |
01
% |
01
% |
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 Jul 03 2200 UTC
Mid-latitudes
|
0-24
hr |
24-48
hr |
ACTIVE |
35
% |
20
% |
MINOR |
15
% |
05
% |
SEVERE |
01
% |
01
% |
High latitudes
|
0-24
hr |
24-48
hr |
ACTIVE |
10
% |
15
% |
MINOR |
25
% |
30
% |
SEVERE |
50
% |
25
% |
|
|
|
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|
|
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This is an AI Free Zone: AI isn't all bad. Large language models are good writers with access to vast stores of data. There's still no substitute for a human being with decades of space weather forecasting experience. This website is 100% human.
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A CME JUST PASSED EARTH: Solar wind data suggest that a CME passed close to Earth on July 3rd around 0400 UTC. The close encounter did not spark a geomagnetic storm, although one is still possible as ripples from the CME continue to wash over our planet. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
INTERSTELLAR COMET ATLAS: The Minor Planet Center has confirmed that 3I/ATLAS is a comet, and, with an orbital eccentricity near 6, it definitely comes from another star. This makes it only the 3rd known interstellar object to pass through our Solar System. Last night, Austrian astrophotographer Michael Jaeger photographed it as a faint pinprick gliding among the stars:
"The comet is currently around magnitude 18, but could brighten to 15 later in the year," says Nick James of the British Astronomical Association. "It should be observable with amateur equipment for the next year or so. What an amazing opportunity to observe a visitor from another star system!"
October 2025 will be particularly interesting. The comet is on course for a close encounter with Mars. At the same time it will be near its maximum brightness. Because the comet comes from outside our solar system, it could behave differently than local comets, brightening much more (or much less) than expected. Previous interstellar objects 'Oumuamua in 2017 and Comet Borisov in 2019 caused a sensation among astronomers; 3I/ATLAS should do the same.
Observers who wish to track the comet can find its orbit and ephemerides here.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
THE NOCTILUCENT SKY SHOW CONTINUES: A widespread outbreak of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) that began around the northern summer solstice is still in progress. Last night, the electric-blue ripples were seen in Europe as far south as Italy, while a typical display looked like this one over Pomorskie, Poland:
"Right after sunset, a friend messaged me, sent me a photo, and asked if what he was seeing were noctilucent clouds. It was 10:50 PM," says photographer Tadek Piotrowski. "I replied that 'yes, they were,' grabbed my phone, put on my shoes, and drove out of the city to find a clear horizon to admire the clouds. They were stunning!"
NLCs are Earth's highest clouds (altitude 83 km). They appear every June when summertime wisps of water vapor rise to the edge of space and form rimes of ice around the ash of burned-up meteors. Fine ripples and a blue glow distinguish them from ordinary clouds. Look for NLCs after sunset when geometry favors their visibility.
Realtime Noctilucent Cloud 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 Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Space Weather 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 Jul 03, 2025, the network reported 3 fireballs.
(2 sporadics, 1 psi Cassiopeid)
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 July 4, 2025 there were 2349 potentially hazardous asteroids.
 |
Recent
& Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters:
| Asteroid |
Date(UT) |
Miss Distance |
Velocity (km/s) |
Diameter (m) |
| 2014 DH |
2025-Jun-28 |
17.1 LD |
12.1 |
17 |
| 2025 MZ1 |
2025-Jun-28 |
3.4 LD |
4.6 |
16 |
| 2025 MS88 |
2025-Jun-28 |
4.4 LD |
10.1 |
22 |
| 2025 ML |
2025-Jun-28 |
6.7 LD |
11.7 |
25 |
| 2025 MV88 |
2025-Jun-29 |
9.2 LD |
21.7 |
35 |
| 2025 MJ91 |
2025-Jun-29 |
0.2 LD |
7.5 |
11 |
| 2025 NA |
2025-Jun-30 |
0.8 LD |
12.1 |
11 |
| 2025 MW89 |
2025-Jun-30 |
5.5 LD |
4 |
13 |
| 2025 MM |
2025-Jul-01 |
5.4 LD |
10.7 |
39 |
| 2025 MK90 |
2025-Jul-02 |
13.8 LD |
9.4 |
30 |
| 2025 NC |
2025-Jul-02 |
1.6 LD |
8.8 |
11 |
| 2025 MY88 |
2025-Jul-04 |
8.8 LD |
8.5 |
37 |
| 2025 MV89 |
2025-Jul-04 |
5.1 LD |
8.7 |
39 |
| 2025 MW91 |
2025-Jul-05 |
16 LD |
16.6 |
45 |
| 2025 MN88 |
2025-Jul-06 |
1.9 LD |
7.8 |
21 |
| 2025 MO |
2025-Jul-07 |
6.7 LD |
4.6 |
10 |
| 2025 MC92 |
2025-Jul-08 |
4 LD |
5 |
9 |
| 2019 JM |
2025-Jul-09 |
16.6 LD |
6.9 |
14 |
| 2019 NW5 |
2025-Jul-09 |
15.2 LD |
16.5 |
65 |
| 2025 MH90 |
2025-Jul-10 |
19.4 LD |
6.5 |
53 |
| 2025 MD89 |
2025-Jul-11 |
14.7 LD |
8 |
38 |
| 2005 VO5 |
2025-Jul-11 |
15.9 LD |
14.4 |
397 |
| 2025 MD1 |
2025-Jul-11 |
18 LD |
8.9 |
44 |
| 2025 MG1 |
2025-Jul-12 |
13.1 LD |
7.2 |
41 |
| 2025 MA90 |
2025-Jul-15 |
17 LD |
9.1 |
89 |
| 2022 YS5 |
2025-Jul-17 |
17.4 LD |
6.1 |
38 |
| 2018 BY6 |
2025-Jul-19 |
13.7 LD |
7.4 |
68 |
| 2025 ME92 |
2025-Jul-20 |
13.4 LD |
5.3 |
31 |
| 2019 CO1 |
2025-Aug-08 |
17.8 LD |
10.5 |
65 |
| 2022 QB1 |
2025-Aug-10 |
8.9 LD |
3.9 |
6 |
| 2021 PJ1 |
2025-Aug-15 |
4.4 LD |
9.3 |
24 |
| 2025 CO3 |
2025-Aug-16 |
19.8 LD |
8.4 |
90 |
| 1997 QK1 |
2025-Aug-20 |
7.9 LD |
9.8 |
315 |
| 2022 QD3 |
2025-Aug-21 |
15 LD |
6.9 |
35 |
| 2023 PX |
2025-Aug-22 |
2.4 LD |
8.3 |
23 |
| 2019 QQ6 |
2025-Aug-24 |
9.4 LD |
17.2 |
31 |
| 2017 RK15 |
2025-Aug-29 |
15.8 LD |
13.2 |
26 |
| 2020 TS1 |
2025-Aug-29 |
17.8 LD |
3.3 |
5 |
| 1998 SH2 |
2025-Aug-30 |
8.1 LD |
17.3 |
246 |
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.
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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 |
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