May 2024 saw increased solar activity, leading to numerous significant events including a rare G5 \u2013 Extreme geomagnetic storm and a powerful solar flare directed at Mars on May 20. This event, estimated at X12, sent X-rays, gamma rays, and charged particles toward the red planet, providing valuable data for future Mars missions.<\/strong><\/p>\n Increased solar activity during May produced numerous significant events, including at least one cannibal CME event and a rare G5 \u2013 Extreme geomagnetic storm, but while most public attention was focused on these, a group of NASA scientists was monitoring Mars when a powerful solar flare estimated to be X12 sent a barrage of X-rays and charged particles toward the planet.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flare sent out X-rays and gamma rays toward the Red Planet, while a subsequent coronal mass ejection launched charged particles. Moving at the speed of light, the X-rays and gamma rays from the flare arrived first, while the charged particles trailed slightly behind, reaching Mars in just tens of minutes,\u201d NASA scientists said.<\/p>\n During the May 20 event, so much energy from the storm struck the surface that black-and-white images from Curiosity\u2019s navigation cameras danced with \u201csnow\u201d \u2014 white streaks and specks caused by charged particles hitting the cameras.<\/p>\n The Curiosity rover was exposed to 8100 micrograys of radiation which is equivalent to 30 chest X-rays, which though not lethal could have serious health implications according to NASA, this data will help scientists plan out for future landing missions on Mars and prepare for the possible radiation exposure to future astronauts.<\/p>\n While not deadly, it was the biggest surge measured by Curiosity\u2019s Radiation Assessment Detector, or RAD, since the rover landed 12 years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cCliffsides or lava tubes would provide\u00a0additional shielding\u00a0for an astronaut from such an event. In Mars orbit or deep space, the dose rate would be significantly more,\u201d said RAD\u2019s principal investigator, Don Hassler of Southwest Research Institute\u2019s Solar System Science and Exploration Division in Boulder, Colorado.<\/p>\n The star camera NASA\u2019s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter uses for orientation was inundated with energy from solar particles, momentarily going out. Even with the brief lapse in its star camera, the orbiter collected vital data on X-rays, gamma rays, and charged particles using its High-Energy Neutron Detector.<\/p>\n This was Odyssey\u2019s second significant encounter with a powerful solar flare in 24 years. In 2003, solar particles from a solar flare that was ultimately estimated to be an X45 fried Odyssey\u2019s radiation detector, which was designed to measure such events.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter observed auroras over Mars caused by the storm. Unlike Earth, which has a robust magnetic field protecting it from charged particles, Mars\u2019 lack of a magnetic field allows these particles to create planet-wide auroras.<\/p>\n Christina Lee, MAVEN Space Weather Lead at the University of California, Berkeley, noted that this was the largest solar energetic particle event observed by MAVEN. The data from MAVEN\u2019s Solar Energetic Particle instrument will help scientists reconstruct the timeline of the event and understand how it unfolded.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s spacecraft data is aiding future missions to Mars and enhancing the agency\u2019s heliophysics research. This includes contributions to missions like Voyager, Parker Solar Probe, and the upcoming ESCAPADE mission.<\/p>\n Scheduled for a late-2024 launch, ESCAPADE\u2019s twin satellites will provide detailed dual-perspective observations of space weather around Mars, surpassing MAVEN\u2019s current capabilities.<\/p>\n References:<\/p>\n 1<\/sup> NASA Watches Mars Light Up During Epic Solar Storm \u2013 NASA \u2013 June 10, 2024<\/p>\n Featured image credit: NASA\/University of Colorado\/LASP<\/em><\/p>\n Monday, June 10, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Saturday, June 8, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Sunday, June 2, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Saturday, June 1, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Wednesday, May 29, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Monday, May 27, 2024<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n![\"aurora](\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/aurora-on-mars-as-seen-by-MAVEN-between-may-14-and-20-2024-1024x800.webp\")
G2 \u2013 Moderate geomagnetic storm watch, X1.5 flare erupts from departing Region 3697<\/h3>\n
Strong solar radiation storm in progress after M9.7 solar flare produced large CME<\/h3>\n
Long-duration M7.3 solar flare produces possible Earth-directed CME<\/h3>\n
Impulsive X1.1 solar flare erupts from Region 3697<\/h3>\n
Long-duration X1.4 solar flare erupts from old region 3664, partial halo CME produced<\/h3>\n
Major X2.8 solar flare erupts from old Region 3664 \u2014 now returning into Earth view<\/h3>\n
Major X2.9 flare erupts on SE limb of the Sun, signals new wave of heightened solar activity<\/h3>\n