PlasmaNerd
@plasmanerd.bsky.social
A Space Weather/Heliophysics researcher, enjoying the scientific nomadic life, and always hunting for more Aurora experiences.
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
November 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Just in case you missed it and wondering; the Blue Origin rocket is still on Earth because of solar activity.
November 12, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Just in case you missed it and wondering; the Blue Origin rocket is still on Earth because of solar activity.
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Last night's light show in Duluth, Minnesota
#photography #landscape #landscapephotography #night #nightsky #minnesota #nature #northernlights
#photography #landscape #landscapephotography #night #nightsky #minnesota #nature #northernlights
November 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Last night's light show in Duluth, Minnesota
#photography #landscape #landscapephotography #night #nightsky #minnesota #nature #northernlights
#photography #landscape #landscapephotography #night #nightsky #minnesota #nature #northernlights
>20 years ago we had the Halloween storms. >30 years ago was the storm that caused the blackout in Quebec and New England. They were massive & we still noticed
This one is hopefully more positively memorable as we have new mitigations for our technology that can be severely impacted by these events
This one is hopefully more positively memorable as we have new mitigations for our technology that can be severely impacted by these events
This same solar storm would not have been as remarkable 10 years ago because people's phones were not as good
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
>20 years ago we had the Halloween storms. >30 years ago was the storm that caused the blackout in Quebec and New England. They were massive & we still noticed
This one is hopefully more positively memorable as we have new mitigations for our technology that can be severely impacted by these events
This one is hopefully more positively memorable as we have new mitigations for our technology that can be severely impacted by these events
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
November 12, 2025 at 6:31 AM
As the space weather is likely active for awhile, remember
1) flares do not cause aurora
2) even when a coronal mass ejection (CME) hits the magnetosphere, doesn't mean there will be a geomagnetic storm.
3) if there is a geomagnetic storm that doesn't mean places like MD will see the Aurora.
1) flares do not cause aurora
2) even when a coronal mass ejection (CME) hits the magnetosphere, doesn't mean there will be a geomagnetic storm.
3) if there is a geomagnetic storm that doesn't mean places like MD will see the Aurora.
November 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
As the space weather is likely active for awhile, remember
1) flares do not cause aurora
2) even when a coronal mass ejection (CME) hits the magnetosphere, doesn't mean there will be a geomagnetic storm.
3) if there is a geomagnetic storm that doesn't mean places like MD will see the Aurora.
1) flares do not cause aurora
2) even when a coronal mass ejection (CME) hits the magnetosphere, doesn't mean there will be a geomagnetic storm.
3) if there is a geomagnetic storm that doesn't mean places like MD will see the Aurora.
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
#Tuberculosis (TB) is preventable and curable.
Yet, it remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming 1.23 million lives in 2024.
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 talks about the gains made so far and the challenges ahead due to severe funding cuts: bit.ly/4qT5ihk
Yet, it remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming 1.23 million lives in 2024.
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 talks about the gains made so far and the challenges ahead due to severe funding cuts: bit.ly/4qT5ihk
November 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
#Tuberculosis (TB) is preventable and curable.
Yet, it remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming 1.23 million lives in 2024.
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 talks about the gains made so far and the challenges ahead due to severe funding cuts: bit.ly/4qT5ihk
Yet, it remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming 1.23 million lives in 2024.
The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 talks about the gains made so far and the challenges ahead due to severe funding cuts: bit.ly/4qT5ihk
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Did you see the #aurora last night? Your photos can help scientists make their space weather models more accurate! ☀️🌌
Remember, to help out scientists studying the Aurora by submitting your photos to Aurorasaurus!
Aurorasaurus.org
Photos don't have to be good! Even just knowing where and when the Aurora was seen is helpful!
Aurorasaurus.org
Photos don't have to be good! Even just knowing where and when the Aurora was seen is helpful!
November 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Did you see the #aurora last night? Your photos can help scientists make their space weather models more accurate! ☀️🌌
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Most forecast centres (including us!) got that first CME arrival bang on. The big differences are for the subsequent CMEs.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
November 12, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Most forecast centres (including us!) got that first CME arrival bang on. The big differences are for the subsequent CMEs.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
I mean magnetism is involved and a key element with why, where, and how the Aurora is formed so... Makes sense.
Much like magnets, no one really knows why the aurora borealis happens. Some say it’s because the gods are angry, some say the gods are joyful, still others say the gods got super high at their friend Kev’s house and then went to a laser show.
November 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I mean magnetism is involved and a key element with why, where, and how the Aurora is formed so... Makes sense.
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
A few more photos from tonight’s incredible #aurora. I’m fascinated by the amount of red light tonight. This is generated by oxygen molecules being excited by light plasma at least 600 km above the Earth. The green is also oxygen molecules, but much lower (100-250km). Definitely a great night.
November 12, 2025 at 4:23 AM
A few more photos from tonight’s incredible #aurora. I’m fascinated by the amount of red light tonight. This is generated by oxygen molecules being excited by light plasma at least 600 km above the Earth. The green is also oxygen molecules, but much lower (100-250km). Definitely a great night.
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Well pass the whiskey and let’s pause in awe.
November 12, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Well pass the whiskey and let’s pause in awe.
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Twin Cities aurora tonight is directly overhead and in overdrive!
November 12, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Twin Cities aurora tonight is directly overhead and in overdrive!
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
LOOK WHATS HAPPENING FLYING OUT OF DENVER RIGHT NOW!!!!!! 🔭🧪
November 12, 2025 at 3:23 AM
LOOK WHATS HAPPENING FLYING OUT OF DENVER RIGHT NOW!!!!!! 🔭🧪
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Tapping the XKCD sign again to explain that no, I won't be seeing an aurora tonight. Or at least I really hope not. That would be bad. :)
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Tapping the XKCD sign again to explain that no, I won't be seeing an aurora tonight. Or at least I really hope not. That would be bad. :)
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
From my house in the suburbs. There is a lot of light pollution here and can actually see the reds with naked eye. Saw better last year in October, but had to drive 35-40 min out to the country.
November 12, 2025 at 3:37 AM
From my house in the suburbs. There is a lot of light pollution here and can actually see the reds with naked eye. Saw better last year in October, but had to drive 35-40 min out to the country.
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
Northern lights in interior Alaska.
November 12, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Northern lights in interior Alaska.
If you are a bit south of the green, look north or north east/West towards where the green is on the map. You might get to see the red aurora still as it's higher up in the sky. We've had reports of aurora seen in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and here's some from Maryland!
November 12, 2025 at 4:07 AM
If you are a bit south of the green, look north or north east/West towards where the green is on the map. You might get to see the red aurora still as it's higher up in the sky. We've had reports of aurora seen in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and here's some from Maryland!
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
PA FOLKS LOOK OUTSIDE !!
Always feel so blessed to see a celestial event 🌌
Always feel so blessed to see a celestial event 🌌
November 12, 2025 at 2:47 AM
PA FOLKS LOOK OUTSIDE !!
Always feel so blessed to see a celestial event 🌌
Always feel so blessed to see a celestial event 🌌
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
So this happened an hour ago. I don’t think I’ve seen red this deep in a long time. You could see it quite clearly with the naked eye. #aurora
November 12, 2025 at 2:07 AM
So this happened an hour ago. I don’t think I’ve seen red this deep in a long time. You could see it quite clearly with the naked eye. #aurora
Reposted by PlasmaNerd
If it wasn't a weeknight I'd wait and see if the sky clears, so this is the best photo I could make tonight. Oh, well.
November 12, 2025 at 3:30 AM
If it wasn't a weeknight I'd wait and see if the sky clears, so this is the best photo I could make tonight. Oh, well.