The Sun, as GOES-19 sees it, over the last 24 hours
The solar wind, from the Sun out past the Earth
L1, where the solar wind is measured on its way to the Earth
The solar wind arriving at the Earth
Aurora Borealis
Aurora Australis
What drives the aurora
What passes L1 reaches Earth 30–60 minutes later. Each column is a half hour’s median. Bz stands from zero, and south (negative) is what lets the wind’s energy in; speed and density stand from the past year’s normal. Orange marks a half hour 3σ to 5σ beyond the past year’s background.
Now, against the past year
Heat strips
A column for every 3 hours, over NOAA’s storm bands; outlined columns are NOAA’s forecast. From Ireland, aurora usually shows low in the north from G1 (Kp 5).
Now
How far the field at Dunsink and Valentia strays from a quiet day: a sudden swing marks a substorm, when the aurora to the north brightens. K is each station’s local K for the 3 hours now running. Orange marks a half hour 3σ to 5σ beyond the past year’s background.
Now, against the past year
Heat strips