 | | Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica Credit: NOAA/Ovation Planetary K-index Now: Kp= 1.00 quiet 24-hr max: Kp= 2.33 quiet explanation | more data Interplanetary Mag. Field Btotal: 5.33 nT Bz: 1.31 nT north more data: ACE, DSCOVR Updated: Today at 1147 UT Coronal Holes: 05 Dec 24  Solar wind flowing from these coronal holes could reach Earth on Dec. 8-10. Credit: NOAA/GOES-16 | 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 Dec. 05, 2024, the Arctic stratosphere is slightly too warm for Type II polar stratospheric clouds. | more data. Noctilucent Clouds The southern season for noctilucent clouds (NLCs) is underway!. The first clouds were detected over Antarctica on Nov. 19, 2024. Here is the current NLC map from the NOAA 21 satellite.  Updated: Dec. 01, 2024 An instrument onboard NOAA 21 (OMPS LP) is able to detect NLCs (also known as "polar mesospheric clouds" or PMCs). In the daily map, above, each dot is a detected cloud. As the season progresses, these dots will multiply in number and shift in hue from blue to red as the brightness of the clouds intensifies. SPACE WEATHER NOAA Forecasts | | Updated at: 2024 Dec 05 2200 UTC FLARE | 0-24 hr | 24-48 hr | CLASS M | 30 % | 35 % | CLASS X | 05 % | 05 % | Geomagnetic Storms: Probabilities for significant disturbances in Earth's magnetic field are given for three activity levels: active, minor storm, severe storm Updated at: 2024 Dec 05 2200 UTC Mid-latitudes | 0-24 hr | 24-48 hr | ACTIVE | 15 % | 15 % | MINOR | 05 % | 05 % | SEVERE | 01 % | 01 % | High latitudes | 0-24 hr | 24-48 hr | ACTIVE | 15 % | 15 % | MINOR | 25 % | 25 % | SEVERE | 20 % | 20 % | | | |  | | | | | | | | This is an AI Free Zone! Text created by Large Language Models is spreading rapidly 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. | | | THE SUN IS BEING QUIET: The sun has not produced a significant flare in more than a week. Quiet conditions are expected to continue today. There are plenty of sunspots facing Earth, but none of them have unstable magnetic fields inclined to explode. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text JUPITER OUTSHINES THE STARS: See that very bright star at midnight? It's no star. This week, Jupiter outshines everything else in the midnight sky as it makes its annual closest approach to Earth. Look for it between the horns of Taurus the Bull: sky map.  Jupiter over Bluff, Utah, on Dec. 1st. Credit: Paul Martini. Shining at magnitude -2.8, Jupiter is almost four times brighter than Sirius. Only the sun, Moon and Venus are brighter than the giant planet this week. Astronomers call this event "opposition," because Jupiter and the sun are on opposite sides of Earth. This diagram explains it all. During the nights around opposition, Jupiter rises in the east at sunset and soars nearly overhead at midnight; it's up all night. The precise moment of closest approach occurs on Dec. 6th, but Jupiter will be extra big and bright all week long. DIAMOND DUST SUN HALOS: The hum, chug and boom of snowmaking machines means one thing. Ski season has arrived? Yes, but also, look toward the sun! Steven Poole's Dec. 4th photo from the Jackson Hole Ski Area in Wyoming shows why:  "The sun halos this morning were spectacular," says Poole. Diamond dust sun halos, to be precise. Ordinary sun halos are caused by ice crystals forming naturally in high cirrus clouds. Snowmaking machines create a special type of crystal called "diamond dust." These man-made crystals tend to be more optically perfect than natural crystals in clouds, producing extra-sharp halos of exquisite complexity. The display Poole witnessed is actually a combination of at least 6 different halos: a 22-degree halo, an upper tangent arc, a parhelic circle, a 46-degree halo, a circumzenithal arc, and a couple of sundogs hidden behind the trees. Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: Christmas is coming. Are you looking for a far-out gift? Check out the Earth to Sky Store. It's filled with unique items that have flown to the edge of space onboard cosmic ray research balloons.  Carried aloft by giant helium balloons, these unique gifts have flown above 99.7% of Earth's atmosphere, experiencing space-like blasts of cosmic rays, extreme cold, and a wild ride parachuting back to Earth after the balloon explodes. Even Amazon doesn't carry items this far out. Don't forget to enter coupon code "BLACKCAT" at checkout for a 10% holiday discount. Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store All sales support hands-on STEM education Realtime Comet 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 Dec 05, 2024, the network reported 21 fireballs. (17 sporadics, 3 sigma Hydrids, 1 November omega Orionid) 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 December 5, 2024 there were 2349 potentially hazardous asteroids.  | Recent & Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters: Asteroid | Date(UT) | Miss Distance | Velocity (km/s) | Diameter (m) | 2019 JN2 | 2024-Nov-30 | 9.4 LD | 7.7 | 25 | 2024 WS | 2024-Nov-30 | 6.1 LD | 10.5 | 18 | 2024 XF1 | 2024-Nov-30 | 4.5 LD | 22.8 | 26 | 2024 XX | 2024-Nov-30 | 1 LD | 7.9 | 16 | 2024 XM1 | 2024-Nov-30 | 5.3 LD | 10.9 | 9 | 2024 XY2 | 2024-Dec-01 | 11 LD | 6.5 | 9 | 2024 XK | 2024-Dec-01 | 1 LD | 13.8 | 7 | 2024 XA | 2024-Dec-01 | 0 LD | 13.6 | 2 | 2024 XV2 | 2024-Dec-01 | 13.5 LD | 9.5 | 17 | 2024 XJ1 | 2024-Dec-01 | 14.7 LD | 6.4 | 16 | 2024 XX2 | 2024-Dec-02 | 3.1 LD | 8.3 | 16 | 2024 WN4 | 2024-Dec-02 | 4.6 LD | 11.5 | 15 | 2021 XZ | 2024-Dec-02 | 13.2 LD | 7.4 | 8 | 2024 XJ | 2024-Dec-02 | 1.3 LD | 5.5 | 10 | 2024 XV3 | 2024-Dec-02 | 4 LD | 7.8 | 6 | 2024 XH1 | 2024-Dec-02 | 0.3 LD | 13.6 | 10 | 2024 XU4 | 2024-Dec-03 | 1 LD | 6.9 | 6 | 2024 WL6 | 2024-Dec-03 | 3.9 LD | 8.2 | 19 | 2024 XG | 2024-Dec-03 | 3.1 LD | 7.6 | 7 | 447755 | 2024-Dec-03 | 14.4 LD | 12.2 | 402 | 2020 XR | 2024-Dec-04 | 5.8 LD | 12.3 | 388 | 2024 XH | 2024-Dec-04 | 0.9 LD | 11.1 | 12 | 2024 WC18 | 2024-Dec-04 | 4.3 LD | 7.8 | 25 | 2024 XQ3 | 2024-Dec-04 | 0.1 LD | 8.6 | 1 | 2024 XZ2 | 2024-Dec-04 | 17.3 LD | 15.9 | 19 | 2024 WO1 | 2024-Dec-04 | 11.8 LD | 4.3 | 15 | 2024 XC2 | 2024-Dec-04 | 5.6 LD | 4.3 | 12 | 2024 WL11 | 2024-Dec-04 | 4.9 LD | 8.5 | 14 | 2021 WA5 | 2024-Dec-05 | 9.8 LD | 5.9 | 12 | 2024 XW3 | 2024-Dec-05 | 16.7 LD | 6 | 17 | 2024 WA22 | 2024-Dec-05 | 5.7 LD | 2.6 | 12 | 2024 WG5 | 2024-Dec-05 | 12 LD | 9.8 | 22 | 2024 WB1 | 2024-Dec-05 | 19.1 LD | 5.8 | 22 | 2024 WH6 | 2024-Dec-06 | 6.3 LD | 12 | 12 | 2024 XB1 | 2024-Dec-06 | 2.3 LD | 6.9 | 11 | 2024 XB3 | 2024-Dec-07 | 8.8 LD | 7.3 | 9 | 2024 XS2 | 2024-Dec-07 | 0.5 LD | 7.6 | 5 | 2024 WG3 | 2024-Dec-07 | 18.4 LD | 6.5 | 38 | 2024 XJ3 | 2024-Dec-07 | 4.2 LD | 7.6 | 12 | 2024 WH12 | 2024-Dec-07 | 6 LD | 6.9 | 14 | 2024 XP4 | 2024-Dec-08 | 12.1 LD | 12.9 | 27 | 2024 WH11 | 2024-Dec-08 | 15.6 LD | 12.2 | 27 | 2024 XT | 2024-Dec-08 | 7.5 LD | 14.8 | 13 | 2024 UU3 | 2024-Dec-08 | 16.9 LD | 4.8 | 41 | 2024 XH3 | 2024-Dec-09 | 2.4 LD | 8.5 | 12 | 2024 VE13 | 2024-Dec-09 | 18.1 LD | 10.2 | 66 | 2024 XG2 | 2024-Dec-09 | 8.9 LD | 12 | 12 | 2024 XP2 | 2024-Dec-09 | 16 LD | 21.3 | 45 | 2024 WZ13 | 2024-Dec-10 | 6.9 LD | 8.9 | 20 | 2024 WS17 | 2024-Dec-10 | 4.7 LD | 8.3 | 17 | 2018 XU3 | 2024-Dec-11 | 16.8 LD | 10.8 | 28 | 2024 XK1 | 2024-Dec-11 | 4.9 LD | 7.5 | 10 | 2024 WB14 | 2024-Dec-11 | 18.1 LD | 6.5 | 28 | 2007 XB23 | 2024-Dec-11 | 1.2 LD | 4.8 | 14 | 2024 WP11 | 2024-Dec-12 | 15.6 LD | 8.6 | 21 | 2024 XS | 2024-Dec-12 | 8.3 LD | 25.4 | 30 | 2024 WD18 | 2024-Dec-13 | 20 LD | 9 | 31 | 2024 XF4 | 2024-Dec-15 | 18.3 LD | 14.5 | 59 | 2024 VE7 | 2024-Dec-16 | 7.3 LD | 8 | 44 | 2022 YO1 | 2024-Dec-17 | 2 LD | 14.3 | 4 | 2024 XS3 | 2024-Dec-18 | 8.7 LD | 10.5 | 27 | 2020 XY4 | 2024-Dec-19 | 12.8 LD | 8.8 | 14 | 2024 XQ4 | 2024-Dec-21 | 2.8 LD | 13.2 | 16 | 2024 XN1 | 2024-Dec-24 | 18.9 LD | 6.6 | 40 | 2017 YD2 | 2024-Dec-27 | 18 LD | 9.9 | 6 | 2024 AV2 | 2024-Dec-31 | 6.7 LD | 7.8 | 17 | 2021 AO4 | 2025-Jan-04 | 6.9 LD | 15.1 | 11 | 2020 BC6 | 2025-Jan-05 | 9.6 LD | 22.2 | 248 | 2024 BM1 | 2025-Jan-08 | 11.5 LD | 9.1 | 22 | 2024 PT5 | 2025-Jan-09 | 4.7 LD | 1 | 12 | 2023 OS3 | 2025-Jan-09 | 19.9 LD | 3.1 | 10 | 2012 UK171 | 2025-Jan-11 | 10.7 LD | 6.4 | 46 | 2023 OS | 2025-Jan-15 | 16.6 LD | 10.9 | 48 | 2022 CE2 | 2025-Jan-16 | 11.1 LD | 13.3 | 120 | 2022 OB5 | 2025-Jan-18 | 8.9 LD | 1.4 | 6 | 2022 BX6 | 2025-Jan-28 | 19.7 LD | 14.3 | 24 | 2015 DJ155 | 2025-Jan-31 | 18.6 LD | 9.2 | 56 | 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 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. |  | BestCSGOGambling is the best site for everything related to CSGO gambling on the web | | 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. | |