How Does the Sun Burn?

Solar storms have a range of potentially disrupting effects on satellites, radio communications, and the power grid. While harm almost never comes from the average geomagnetic storm, it is important for companies to prepare in the event that an extreme storm brings risks of power blackouts or satellite loss. What is truly at risk, and how do we prepare when a storm is on its way? Tune in to find out! Also catch this week's space weather forecast, as we wait patiently watching the sun!

It's been known for over a century that auroral storms are stronger and more frequent around the spring and fall equinoxes. Why is this the case? In this episode I dig into the dynamics of the Russell-McPherron effect, a explanation for this variation proposed in 1973. And in the process, you just might learn a little more about the Bz and why it's so critical to aurora chasers! You'll also find this week's space weather forecast, as we wait for an incoming CME with a chance for Kp 7 storms!

Last month I talked about a potential bright comet coming, and now it's here! In this episode I give the information you need to find it. Catch its morning show if you're lucky, or wait for the main event in October. I also provide this week's space weather forecast, as we watch and wait for solar flares! Live comet tracking updates: https://theskylive.com/c2023a3-info

This fall, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is predicted to be visible to the naked eye, and some think it could be a truly bright spectacle. In this show, I give an overview of how to look for the comet in September and October. I also describe how space weather is responsible for many of a comet's classic features! Visit theskylive.com/c2023a3-info for up-to-date info on the comet's brightness and location, so you can point your own telescope at it.

On May 10, we experienced one of the strongest geomagnetic storms in the last 25 years. In this episode, I summarise the key points of this article by Christian Harris, to see how the storm stacks up against the other main contender this century. https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/news/view/544/20240517-let-s-compare-halloween-2003-vs-may-2024-solar-storms.html

This month on the podcast, I talk about a special mission that was launched to study the sun and space weather. It's called the Parker Solar Probe, and it continues to send back fascinating data from inside the solar corona. Listen to learn all about it! I also give next week's space weather forecast. To learn more about the Parker Solar Probe and view it in 3D: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/parker-solar-probe/

In this episode I break down by latitude what Kp and other data to watch for when going aurora chasing in the Northern Hemisphere. It can seem an endless sea of confusing data values relating to the aurora, but you can quickly learn what to look for to decide whether the aurora might be visible from your location. spaceweatherlive.com is a great site to check with all the info you need in a user-friendly view.

The solar system is huge, and it turns out that defining where it ends is tricky! Depending on the definition we use, we can come up with wildly different estimates for its size. Listen to the show for an exploration of this fascinating topic! You'll also hear next week's space weather forecast, with some farside sunspots to keep an eye on.

Today, I give an overview of the Earth's magnetic field. How is it formed and what does it do? Listen to find out! I also give the space weather forecast, in which the Sun may finally be waking from a long sleep!

The sun clearly produces enormous amounts of light and heat, which sustain life on our planet. How does it do this? Is it a big ball of fire in space? I answer that and more in this episode. Additionally, I give the space weather forecast, with a chance for activity this weekend and next week.