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Space Weather Introduction

What are scientists talking about when they say "space weather"? How is it like weather on Earth? How is it different? How does space weather affect me? Can astronomers forecast space weather, and if so, how? What are the unsolved mysteries in the field of space weather? Read on...

Sunspots don't look that big when you see them on the Sun (remember NEVER look directly at the Sun), but in fact they can be enormous! This composite image shows just how big sunspots can be, to scale with an image of Earth. Sunspots can be as big, or bigger, than Earth. The <a href="/sun/activity/sunspot_history.html">earliest written record of a sunspot observation</a> was made by Chinese astronomers around 800 B.C.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of NASA/Trace Mission</em></small></p>

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Explore Space Weather Introduction

What is Space Weather?

Weather on Earth is the set of ever-changing ambient conditions in our atmosphere. Its elements ...Read more

Earth Weather vs. Space Weather

How is space weather similar to Earth weather? How are they different? Does space weather affect ...Read more

How Scientists Study Space Weather

Scientists combine various techniques to study space weather. Earth-based and orbiting telescopes ...Read more

How does Space Weather affect Earth and Human Society?

Although space weather forecasts are not normally featured on the evening news, space weather ...Read more

Space Weather Mysteries & Unanswered Questions

The study of space weather is a relatively young science. As such it has many unanswered questions ...Read more

Did you know?

Did you know that lunar eclipses are produced by the Earth casting its shadow on the Moon?

Did you know that, in Egyptian mythology, the sky goddess Nut married the Earth god Geb, and that the Sun god Re was angry, and so forced them to separate?

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Tuff

xTuff : A type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Gulf Oil Spill: Mississippi River Hydrology May Help Reduce Oil Onshore

The Gulf of Mexico: what role will the Mississippi River play in oil washing ashore and into delta wetlands? One of the spill's greatest environmental threats is to Louisiana's wetlands, scientists believe....Read more

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