Your early morning moment of awe brought to you by NASA (you know one of those socialist organizations that's stealing our tax dollars and probably giving them to aliens who will take away all our guns):
(Original source at this link from NASA)
Here's the description of this unusual event from NASA's Video Gallery:
This gorgeous view of the aurora was taken from the International Space Station as it crossed over the southern Indian Ocean on September 17, 2011. The sped-up movie spans the time period from 12:22 to 12:45 PM ET.
While aurora are often seen near the poles, this aurora appeared at lower latitudes due to a geomagnetic storm – the insertion of energy into Earth's magnetic environment called the magnetosphere – caused by a coronal mass ejection from the sun that erupted ...
Apparently we are experiencing a sudden increase of solar flares:
That gigantic solar flare that lashed out toward Earth on Saturday is "the geomagnetic storm that just won't go away," the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colo., said via its Facebook page today. And that appears to be true. Active Region 1302, pictured above, continues to pummel earth with solar energy and could disrupt satellite communications as it continues turning toward us in the days to come. [...]
But AR1302 is also not slowing down, and as the week wears on it will turn to face Earth more directly. An SWPC bulletin yesterday warned that for the next 3-5 days, we’re squarely in the solar storm’s sights. Another blast like Saturday’s and we may feel it here on Earth in the form of disrupted communications. A larger blast could do even more damage to the power grid and other infrastructure.
The same socialist government agency that faces budget cuts by Congress. Here's a reminder of some of the critical science missions NASA and other government agencies such as the EPA fulfills:
Critical Weather and Climate and other vital scientific information:
Extreme Rainfall Amounts. The stalled storm over the Great Lakes has squeezed out some 3-6" rainfall amounts over Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky since September 20.
Monitoring the sun for solar events that can wreak havoc here on earth:
"NASA today said a strong-to-severe geomagnetic storm is in progress following a massive solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME). CMEs are a solar phenomenon that can send solar particles into space and affect electronic systems in satellites and on Earth. Simulations indicate that solar wind plasma has penetrated close to geosynchronous orbit starting at 9am today. Geosynchronous satellites could therefore be directly exposed to solar wind plasma and magnetic fields. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras after nightfall, NASA stated. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather forecast center went further saying: A CME that erupted from NOAA Active Region 1302 on Saturday September 24 in conjunction with an M7 strength solar flare, arrived this morning at 1237 UT (8:37am Eastern Time). It has kicked off moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms for low latitudes, but high latitudes are seeing severe (G4) levels of activity. Aurora watchers in Asia and Europe are most favorably positioned for this event, though it may persist long enough for viewers in North America. The bulk of the CME missed the Earth, meaning the storm intensity and duration are less than what they would have been in the case of a direct hit. Region 1302 remains capable of producing more activity and will be in a favorable position for that activity to have impacts on Earth for the next 3-5 days."
Not to mention advance warning of tropical storms, hurricanes and other extreme weather events. Oh and lest we forget, monitoring pollution levels of gases such as ozone:
At this website we provide the results and ongoing data studies for the study of ozone and other gases, aerosols, radiances, and ultraviolet radiation, and what has been learned about atmospheric pollution and air quality from the international science missions making these measurements.[...]
More recently, scientists at institutions including NASA and NOAA have developed the capability to measure tropospheric composition from space using ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy. These measurements include atmospheric pollutant gases. They help to develop the capability to predict air quality for the U.S. and globally.
Well, that's just a small sample. I didn't even mention the NIH or the CDC and the vital role they play in providing public health services and research, including warning about disease outbreaks and studies for new medical treatments. Too bad some people in Congress (you know of whom I speak) would like to drastically reduce government funded scientific research and related services:
[L]ike the particles accelerating at superluminious speeds in Europe, the corollary in Washington is that as dysfunctional as Congress has already been this year, it could still grow even more dysfunctional.
This state of perpetual brinksmanship, which has paralyzed Congress from doing little besides approving basic operating monies and keeping the nation from default, has become the standard on Capitol Hill.
The persistence of a Congress operating at the equivalent of DEFCON 1 for the year wasn't lost on Senate Chaplain Barry Black as he delivered the afternoon prayer when the Senate gaveled-in Monday afternoon.
"As they move from crisis to crisis, help our senators to see more clearly the spiritual values that are the heritage and guide for this land we love," Black said.
Earth was on high alert late last week as a decommissioned, six ton research satellite barreled toward the surface. NASA believes the satellite splashed down somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Frankly, NASA's not really sure. But had Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) not crafted an agreement to forestall a shutdown, NASA may have easily mistaken the U.S. Capitol for the crash site.
Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/...
Enjoy the benefits of NASA, NOAA, the EPA and other government agencies that serve this country well by providing us with scientific data collection and research critical to our economy and the health and welfare of all Americans (and the rest of the world too) while you can.
“The science community has a lot to be concerned about right now, a lot of reasons to speak out to show the American public they’re accountable for the tax dollars that support them,” said Mary Woolley, CEO of the non-profit research advocate group Research!America.
Yes. Yes they do. Oh well.
“Cutting research and development is not a deficit reduction strategy. What we need to do is invest in the future economy by appropriating more money to NIH, National Science Foundation, Centers for Disease Control, and others,” said Woolley.
Tell that to the Teahadists, Mr. Science man. Not that they will listen. God and prayer are their preferred means to save America from the evils of Mad Marxist Scientists such as those who they contend have infested the Federal Government and our poisoning the minds of our youth with ideas not found in the Bible.
Anyway, hope you liked the video of the Aurora. I sure did.