Astronomical summer officially arrives in the Northern Hemisphere — amidst a heat wave — at 4:51 p.m. ET. It's the earliest start to the season since 1796, thanks to quirks in the calendar.
'You will see a sun you've never seen before,' says science writer David Baron. He urges people to head to the 'path of totality' to see the total solar eclipse on April 8 for an experience of a lifetime.
We are at the height of the Sun's activity in its eleven year cycle, known to astronomers as the solar maximum. This means that over the next several months there's going to be a lot of solar activity. It's got us thinking back to 1859. That's when astronomer Richard Carrington was studying the Sun when he witnessed the most intense geomagnetic storm recorded in history. The storm, triggered by a giant solar flare, sent brilliant auroral displays across the globe causing electrical sparking and fires in telegraph stations. This encore episode, Regina talks to solar physicist Dr. Samaiyah Farid about what's now known as the Carrington event and about what may happen the next time a massive solar storm hits Earth.
Want to hear us cover other parts of the solar system? Email the show at shortwave@npr.org to let us know!
Scientists have updated their forecast for the current solar cycle, which usually lasts about 11 years. Solar activity is now expected to peak earlier and to be stronger than previously thought.
The dark patches, known as coronal holes, are regions where solar wind escapes more quickly and readily into space. Geomagnetic storms can disrupt GPS and hurt the power grid.
The Northern Lights, known scientifically as auroras borealis, are triggered by geomagnetic activity from the sun. They typically occur closer to the North Pole, near Alaska and Canada.
