NASA Sounding Rocket Launches into Alaskan Aurora

Images

Thursday, 09 November 2023

A sounding rocket launched from Poker Flat Research Range in Fairbanks, Alaska, Nov. 8, 2023, carrying the DISSIPATION mission. The rocket launched into aurora and successfully captured data to understand how auroras heat the atmosphere and cause high-altitude winds.

Image Credit: NASA/Lee Wingfield

Planetary Positions

02.11.2024 at 12:23:23 UTC

Planet	Longitude
The Sun	10 Sco 34' 27"
The Moon	21 Sco 25' 30"
Mercury	29 Sco 35' 57"
Venus	18 Sag 55' 32"
Mars	29 Can 25' 26"
Jupiter	20 Gem 22' 03" R
Saturn	12 Pis 50' 31" R
Uranus	25 Tau 50' 26" R
Neptune	27 Pis 28' 23" R
Pluto	29 Cap 45' 09"

Solar Status

BZ Status:	-5
Proton Density:	1.39
Proton Speed:	432.6 k/sec
KP Status:	4.00

Type	Nov 2	Nov 3	Nov 4
Active	25%	35%	35%
Minor	5%	25%	20%
Moderate	1%	5%	5%
Strong	1%	1%	1%
Kp Index Prediction
00-03UT	2.33	2.67	3.67
03-06UT	1.33	3.00	2.67
06-09UT	1.00	2.67	2.67
09-12UT	1.00	2.67	2.00
12-15UT	2.33	2.33	1.67
15-18UT	2.33	2.67	1.67
18-21UT	2.67	3.67	1.67
21-00UT	2.67	3.67	2.67
Solar Activity
Solar activity was moderate this period with four R1 (Minor) events observed. New Region 3881 (S09E26) was numbered and Region 3871 (S09W62) reemerged with spots. Growth was noted in Regions 3871 and 3878 (N16E10) while the remaining regions were mostly stable. No Earth-directed CMEs were detected in available data.
Solar Wind
Solar wind parameters were slightly enhanced this period. Total field strength ranged 6-9 nT and the Bz component varied +8/-7 nT. Solar wind speeds gradually decreased from 500 km/s early in the period to around 400 km/s.
Energetic Particle
The greater than 10 MeV proton flux, which reached S1 (Minor) levels beginning at 26/1910 UTC and reached a peak of 364 pfu at 28/1350 UTC, decreased below the S1 level at 01/0735 UTC. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal and moderate levels. .Forecast... There is a chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to reach S1 (Minor) levels over 02-04 Nov. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to be at normal to moderate levels through 04 Nov.

NASA Sounding Rocket Launches into Alaskan Aurora

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