Near Real-Time Space Conditions

A spectacular flare has consequences at Earth.


Movie Credit: This film clip taken from a longer movie by Big Bear Solar Observatory of a flare that occurred on April 7, 1997.

Two Views of Distant Earth-Space from NOAA/GOES

Another View from NOAA/TIROS at Low-Earth Orbit

Basic Facts:

Space is a dangerous place for operating satellites that bring us TV, telecommunications, weather and information about the Earth's surface conditions. Hundreds of satellites, a large portion of our space resources, travel at geosynchronous orbit where the satellites and the Earth rotate at the same rate. These satellites remain over the same location on the Earth's surface giving us important and vital 24 hour a day services but they can be damaged by penetrating radiation or disoriented by unexpected magnetic field changes.

Low-Earth polar orbit is another very popular location for satellites that relay information on the weather, map the Earth's resources, provide critical communications links, and a variety of other important services. NOAA/TIROS updates information daily on the variations in the high-velocity electron environment through which these satellites fly.

Take me to the Space Environment Center Web Site
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