Diary News Feed

The number of heavy particles (protons with energies above 10 MeV) in near-Earth space is currently approximately tenfold higher. The increase in particle density is a response to the overall increase in solar activity that began in late March and was recorded almost simultaneously with the launch of the space mission.

Comet C/2026 A1, en route to the Sun, entered the field of view of the world's primary coronagraph, the LASCO instrument, 38 hours before its encounter with the Sun. From this point on, the celestial body's fate can be tracked virtually live.

A moderate magnetic storm is occurring on Earth. The event is associated with an incoming stream of fast solar wind, formed by a rather unusually shaped coronal hole. The disturbances are expected to last approximately three days.

An important update has been made to the catalog of comets currently visible in the sky, which includes some of the faintest bodies. Comet C/2026 A1, which is rapidly increasing in brightness as it approaches the Sun, rose to first place yesterday in brightness and will hold this spot for the next four days, which is likely the maximum lifespan remaining for this billion-year-old celestial body.

The main event of the past 24 hours was the first high-level solar flare since February 4, accompanied by a large, high-speed plasma ejection. The direction of the ejection remains a matter of debate, but the general consensus is that the plasma cloud will edge toward the planet, likely as early as this evening.

Given the importance of the situation, the first very fast model is presented. As expected, it shows a borderline situation.

Data is coming in about a major solar event. At 6:19 Moscow time, a level X flare (the highest solar flare) occurred—the first since February 4, 2026, or nearly two months. This is the second significant solar event in the past two days, following the plasma ejection that bypassed Earth, recorded on Saturday, March 28. Both events involved the same active region.

Judging by what coronagraphs are sending back and X-ray profiles, a large plasma ejection is currently developing on the Sun.

The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter spacecraft, orbiting the Sun, has reached the exact opposite side of its orbit from Earth. This means that humanity can now observe the entire Sun—both the side facing Earth and the side away from it.

The rather prolonged surge in geomagnetic activity that began on March 20 (last Friday) appears to have finally ended.