SolarSteph 🌞
@stephyardley.bsky.social
Space Scientist, STFC Ermest Rutherford Fellow and Vice-Chancellor's Fellow @ Northumbria University.
stephyardley.com
stephyardley.com
📊 Latest HUXt forecast shows 2 CMEs from AR4274 arriving on 12 Nov at ~4 & 15UT respectively. AR4274 is delivering a one-two punch!⚡️🥊 G2+ storm conditions increasingly likely. Aurora prospects strong for northern UK despite poor weather forecast.
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
November 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
📊 Latest HUXt forecast shows 2 CMEs from AR4274 arriving on 12 Nov at ~4 & 15UT respectively. AR4274 is delivering a one-two punch!⚡️🥊 G2+ storm conditions increasingly likely. Aurora prospects strong for northern UK despite poor weather forecast.
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
Now that we have the coronagraph data from GOES/CCOR I can now confirm that the CME is a full halo, which means it is Earth-directed. This increases the chances of a stronger geomagnetic storm and impressive aurora displays. Stay tuned! 🌞💥💨🌎 #SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
November 10, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Now that we have the coronagraph data from GOES/CCOR I can now confirm that the CME is a full halo, which means it is Earth-directed. This increases the chances of a stronger geomagnetic storm and impressive aurora displays. Stay tuned! 🌞💥💨🌎 #SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
🚨 AR4274 just fired off another X-class flare! ⚡
CME confirmed, main bulk doesn't appear Earth-directed, though it's difficult to determine atm. If AR4274 keeps this up... are we heading for a situation similar to May 2024? Keep watching 👀
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
CME confirmed, main bulk doesn't appear Earth-directed, though it's difficult to determine atm. If AR4274 keeps this up... are we heading for a situation similar to May 2024? Keep watching 👀
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
November 10, 2025 at 11:25 AM
🚨 AR4274 just fired off another X-class flare! ⚡
CME confirmed, main bulk doesn't appear Earth-directed, though it's difficult to determine atm. If AR4274 keeps this up... are we heading for a situation similar to May 2024? Keep watching 👀
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
CME confirmed, main bulk doesn't appear Earth-directed, though it's difficult to determine atm. If AR4274 keeps this up... are we heading for a situation similar to May 2024? Keep watching 👀
#SpaceWeather #StephsStormWatch
The HUXt model forecasts a direct hit but at a slightly later time of 12th Nov ~3:30 UT. Weather forecast still looks bad... 🫣
November 10, 2025 at 9:19 AM
The HUXt model forecasts a direct hit but at a slightly later time of 12th Nov ~3:30 UT. Weather forecast still looks bad... 🫣
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
Arrival expected on Tuesday night, fingers crossed the weather improves as it’s been awful recently 🤞🌧️
A #solarstorm with an initial speed of ~730 km/s is on its way toward Earth! It’s associated with an X1.7-class flare that peaked today around 07:35 UTC.
The CME is expected to arrive Tuesday, 11 November, around 20:00 UTC (21:00 CET).
Let’s hope for a better aurora show than on Friday🤞🌌
The CME is expected to arrive Tuesday, 11 November, around 20:00 UTC (21:00 CET).
Let’s hope for a better aurora show than on Friday🤞🌌
November 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Arrival expected on Tuesday night, fingers crossed the weather improves as it’s been awful recently 🤞🌧️
The X1.8 flare from AR4274 did produce a CME! While the bulk of the eruption appears to be propagating northwest, there is likely an Earth-directed component 🌍 Waiting for the models to understand propagation & arrival ⚡
#SpaceWeather #CME #StephsStormWatch
#SpaceWeather #CME #StephsStormWatch
November 9, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The X1.8 flare from AR4274 did produce a CME! While the bulk of the eruption appears to be propagating northwest, there is likely an Earth-directed component 🌍 Waiting for the models to understand propagation & arrival ⚡
#SpaceWeather #CME #StephsStormWatch
#SpaceWeather #CME #StephsStormWatch
🚨 What we have been waiting for. AR 4274 just unleashed an X1.8 solar flare! 💥 We will have to wait and check the data to see if this beast erupted and if there's an Earth-directed CME heading our way 🌞💨🌍
Updates to follow!
#SpaceWeather #SolarFlare #StephsStormWatch
Updates to follow!
#SpaceWeather #SolarFlare #StephsStormWatch
November 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
🚨 What we have been waiting for. AR 4274 just unleashed an X1.8 solar flare! 💥 We will have to wait and check the data to see if this beast erupted and if there's an Earth-directed CME heading our way 🌞💨🌍
Updates to follow!
#SpaceWeather #SolarFlare #StephsStormWatch
Updates to follow!
#SpaceWeather #SolarFlare #StephsStormWatch
Fast solar wind from a coronal hole 🌪️ is driving G1 (minor) geomagnetic storming conditions over the coming days. An eruption from the adjacent active region will deliver a glancing blow 10 Nov, escalating to G2 (moderate) conditions🌞💨
#SpaceWeather #GeomagneticStorm
#SpaceWeather #GeomagneticStorm
November 8, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Fast solar wind from a coronal hole 🌪️ is driving G1 (minor) geomagnetic storming conditions over the coming days. An eruption from the adjacent active region will deliver a glancing blow 10 Nov, escalating to G2 (moderate) conditions🌞💨
#SpaceWeather #GeomagneticStorm
#SpaceWeather #GeomagneticStorm
☀️ Mark your calendars! ☀️
ESPM-18 (European Solar Physics Meeting)
📍 Wrocław, Poland 🇵🇱
📅 6-10 September 2027
Looking forward to seeing the solar and heliospheric physics community there! 🔬✨
#SolarPhysics #ESPM18 #SpaceWeather #Astrophysics
ESPM-18 (European Solar Physics Meeting)
📍 Wrocław, Poland 🇵🇱
📅 6-10 September 2027
Looking forward to seeing the solar and heliospheric physics community there! 🔬✨
#SolarPhysics #ESPM18 #SpaceWeather #Astrophysics
November 7, 2025 at 4:18 PM
☀️ Mark your calendars! ☀️
ESPM-18 (European Solar Physics Meeting)
📍 Wrocław, Poland 🇵🇱
📅 6-10 September 2027
Looking forward to seeing the solar and heliospheric physics community there! 🔬✨
#SolarPhysics #ESPM18 #SpaceWeather #Astrophysics
ESPM-18 (European Solar Physics Meeting)
📍 Wrocław, Poland 🇵🇱
📅 6-10 September 2027
Looking forward to seeing the solar and heliospheric physics community there! 🔬✨
#SolarPhysics #ESPM18 #SpaceWeather #Astrophysics
G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm watch! Multiple solar eruptions from AR 4274 are delivering glancing blows to Earth, combined with fast solar wind. Aurora possible across Scotland and potentially further south (cloud permitting) with the best chance on Friday morning.🌞💨
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm watch! Multiple solar eruptions from AR 4274 are delivering glancing blows to Earth, combined with fast solar wind. Aurora possible across Scotland and potentially further south (cloud permitting) with the best chance on Friday morning.🌞💨
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
First images of comet #3I/ATLAS from Europe's Mars orbiters 😍
Observing the comet from 30 million km away, #ExoMars reveals the halo of gas and dust surrounding the comet's nucleus.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
Observing the comet from 30 million km away, #ExoMars reveals the halo of gas and dust surrounding the comet's nucleus.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
October 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
First images of comet #3I/ATLAS from Europe's Mars orbiters 😍
Observing the comet from 30 million km away, #ExoMars reveals the halo of gas and dust surrounding the comet's nucleus.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
Observing the comet from 30 million km away, #ExoMars reveals the halo of gas and dust surrounding the comet's nucleus.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
Very nice to see ngGONG move forward! GONG is a decades-old global instrument on which the Sun never sets, to observe the Sun around the clock. It provides very important continuous monitoring of space weather and allows us to image the interior of the star itself. ☀️
NSO Receives Funding from NSF to Design the Next-Generation Solar Observing Network to Advance Solar Science and Space Weather Forecasting - NSO - National Solar Observatory
The U. S. NSF National Solar Observatory will design a Next-Generation Ground-based Solar Observing Network (ngGONG) advancing space-weather forecasting.
nso.edu
September 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Very nice to see ngGONG move forward! GONG is a decades-old global instrument on which the Sun never sets, to observe the Sun around the clock. It provides very important continuous monitoring of space weather and allows us to image the interior of the star itself. ☀️
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
A helpful summary from Nature on some of the challenges facing the U.K. higher education sector (and their background).
#highereducation #universities #research #education
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
#highereducation #universities #research #education
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
UK university departments on the brink as higher-education funding crisis deepens
As a new academic year dawns, international competition, government policies and inflationary pressures could be pushing some universities to the brink of bankruptcy.
www.nature.com
September 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A helpful summary from Nature on some of the challenges facing the U.K. higher education sector (and their background).
#highereducation #universities #research #education
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
#highereducation #universities #research #education
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
“In an anonymous survey of (UK Physics) department heads by the Institute of Physics (IoP), 26% said they faced potential closure of their department within the next two years, while 60% said they expected courses to be reduced.”
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Quarter of UK university physics departments at risk of closing, survey finds
Four out of five making staff cuts as physicists say findings are ‘great concern’ for UK’s leadership in important areas
www.theguardian.com
September 20, 2025 at 6:01 AM
“In an anonymous survey of (UK Physics) department heads by the Institute of Physics (IoP), 26% said they faced potential closure of their department within the next two years, while 60% said they expected courses to be reduced.”
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
We bail out banks. We bail the steel industry, the water industry, airlines and hotels.
The UK higher education sector directly employs nearly 1M people. It's the envy of the world and benefits almost every area of UK society. But apparently it can go burn.
The UK higher education sector directly employs nearly 1M people. It's the envy of the world and benefits almost every area of UK society. But apparently it can go burn.
September 20, 2025 at 9:20 AM
We bail out banks. We bail the steel industry, the water industry, airlines and hotels.
The UK higher education sector directly employs nearly 1M people. It's the envy of the world and benefits almost every area of UK society. But apparently it can go burn.
The UK higher education sector directly employs nearly 1M people. It's the envy of the world and benefits almost every area of UK society. But apparently it can go burn.
Opening night! 🤩
🌞🎶 Experience the aurora like never before!
Aurora — an immersive exhibition turning May 2024 aurora into sound 🔊
📅 Opens 10 Sept, 5–6.30pm
📍 Gallery North, Northumbria Uni, NE1 8QE
#Aurora #SpaceWeather #Sonification #NorthumbriaUni #NewcastleUni #WeAreAllSolarOrbiters
Aurora — an immersive exhibition turning May 2024 aurora into sound 🔊
📅 Opens 10 Sept, 5–6.30pm
📍 Gallery North, Northumbria Uni, NE1 8QE
#Aurora #SpaceWeather #Sonification #NorthumbriaUni #NewcastleUni #WeAreAllSolarOrbiters
September 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Opening night! 🤩
🌞🎶 Experience the aurora like never before!
Aurora — an immersive exhibition turning May 2024 aurora into sound 🔊
📅 Opens 10 Sept, 5–6.30pm
📍 Gallery North, Northumbria Uni, NE1 8QE
#Aurora #SpaceWeather #Sonification #NorthumbriaUni #NewcastleUni #WeAreAllSolarOrbiters
Aurora — an immersive exhibition turning May 2024 aurora into sound 🔊
📅 Opens 10 Sept, 5–6.30pm
📍 Gallery North, Northumbria Uni, NE1 8QE
#Aurora #SpaceWeather #Sonification #NorthumbriaUni #NewcastleUni #WeAreAllSolarOrbiters
September 9, 2025 at 12:55 PM
🌞🎶 Experience the aurora like never before!
Aurora — an immersive exhibition turning May 2024 aurora into sound 🔊
📅 Opens 10 Sept, 5–6.30pm
📍 Gallery North, Northumbria Uni, NE1 8QE
#Aurora #SpaceWeather #Sonification #NorthumbriaUni #NewcastleUni #WeAreAllSolarOrbiters
Aurora — an immersive exhibition turning May 2024 aurora into sound 🔊
📅 Opens 10 Sept, 5–6.30pm
📍 Gallery North, Northumbria Uni, NE1 8QE
#Aurora #SpaceWeather #Sonification #NorthumbriaUni #NewcastleUni #WeAreAllSolarOrbiters
Arrival was last night, did anyone managed to catch the aurora in the UK? Of course I am away at a conference right now… 😅
A bit late to the party 🎉 but it looks like there is a chance for moderate to strong geomagnetic storming (G2/3) due to the arrival of a fast solar eruption expected on Monday/Tuesday. Aurora may be seen in central UK 👀 🌞💨 🌎
September 2, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Arrival was last night, did anyone managed to catch the aurora in the UK? Of course I am away at a conference right now… 😅
A bit late to the party 🎉 but it looks like there is a chance for moderate to strong geomagnetic storming (G2/3) due to the arrival of a fast solar eruption expected on Monday/Tuesday. Aurora may be seen in central UK 👀 🌞💨 🌎
August 31, 2025 at 10:19 PM
A bit late to the party 🎉 but it looks like there is a chance for moderate to strong geomagnetic storming (G2/3) due to the arrival of a fast solar eruption expected on Monday/Tuesday. Aurora may be seen in central UK 👀 🌞💨 🌎
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
This #solarstorm from late Aug 30 2025 will arrive at 🌍 noon to late Monday Sep 1.
Depending on its internal magnetic field, it has the potential for #aurora in central Europe and maybe #GNSS errors.
Parker Solar Probe will tell us in hindsight if its field was predictable from 0.5 au.
Depending on its internal magnetic field, it has the potential for #aurora in central Europe and maybe #GNSS errors.
Parker Solar Probe will tell us in hindsight if its field was predictable from 0.5 au.
August 31, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This #solarstorm from late Aug 30 2025 will arrive at 🌍 noon to late Monday Sep 1.
Depending on its internal magnetic field, it has the potential for #aurora in central Europe and maybe #GNSS errors.
Parker Solar Probe will tell us in hindsight if its field was predictable from 0.5 au.
Depending on its internal magnetic field, it has the potential for #aurora in central Europe and maybe #GNSS errors.
Parker Solar Probe will tell us in hindsight if its field was predictable from 0.5 au.
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
This is great news! Congratulations Michele! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK gets first female Astronomer Royal in 350 years
Prof Michele Dougherty is the first woman to be appointed to the influential post.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 30, 2025 at 7:50 AM
This is great news! Congratulations Michele! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
🧪 BREAKING (good news): Senate subcommittee says NO! to Trump's proposed slashes to NASA & NSF funding.
Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.
See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.
🧵 1/3
Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.
See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.
🧵 1/3
Subcommittee Markup of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
www.appropriations.senate.gov
July 10, 2025 at 12:23 AM
🧪 BREAKING (good news): Senate subcommittee says NO! to Trump's proposed slashes to NASA & NSF funding.
Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.
See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.
🧵 1/3
Today, the subcommittee said to keep NASA + NSF funding at $33.9 billion, the same as in FY24.
See 7:15 below. Full Senate appropriations committee meets tomorrow about it.
🧵 1/3
Reposted by SolarSteph 🌞
Solar astronomer @stephyardley.bsky.social joins BBC Science in Action this week to explain why the new polar views of the Sun, from ESA's Solar Orbiter, will make such a difference in unravelling the Sun's magnetic turmoil and what drives the 11-yr cycle in activity.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, The First Solar Polar Pictures
ESA’s Solar Orbiter camera probe begins raising its orbit towards the sun’s poles.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 12, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Solar astronomer @stephyardley.bsky.social joins BBC Science in Action this week to explain why the new polar views of the Sun, from ESA's Solar Orbiter, will make such a difference in unravelling the Sun's magnetic turmoil and what drives the 11-yr cycle in activity.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
We now have views of the Sun's poles for the very first time thanks to ESA's Solar Orbiter Mission! This is only the start as Solar Orbiter's inclination will increase to up to 33 degrees out of the ecliptic later in the mission...🌞🛰️
🌞 See the Sun from a whole new angle.
For the first time, our Solar Orbiter mission has captured close-up images of the Sun’s mysterious poles, regions long hidden from our view.
For the first time, our Solar Orbiter mission has captured close-up images of the Sun’s mysterious poles, regions long hidden from our view.
June 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM
We now have views of the Sun's poles for the very first time thanks to ESA's Solar Orbiter Mission! This is only the start as Solar Orbiter's inclination will increase to up to 33 degrees out of the ecliptic later in the mission...🌞🛰️