Meredith Garofalo
Latest articles by Meredith Garofalo
![the sun rises through a red, dusty haze on mars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgR9mtoe2W9SrG75LqitoB-320-80.jpg)
Massive sunspot that brought widespread auroras to Earth now targets Mars
By Meredith Garofalo published
After quite the aurora experience across Earth this past weekend, beastly sunspot AR3664 could give Mars quite the same solar spectacular.
![a false color image of the sun, shown in blue greens, as flares a swirls erupt from its surface.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hosGEULVSKPLwSHZX8ukz5-320-80.png)
Here we go again — new sunspot regions emerge, strong solar flare recorded
By Meredith Garofalo published
With the decrease of potential impacts from AR 3664, forecasters are monitoring new sunspot regions developing on the eastern half of the sun.
![closeup of the sun's orange surface, showing a bright-white flare erupting from a spot on the limb](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DWTpp39VhktQwNtsKxi9DP-320-80.jpg)
Huge, solar flare-launching sunspot has rotated away from Earth. But will it return?
By Meredith Garofalo published
The behemoth sunspot AR3664 has finally rotated out of Earth's view, firing off two more big solar storms on its way out the door. Will it come back?
![colorful wisps of light appear in the night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2LgupXeq4towL6sBXYsnk6-320-80.jpg)
How do you forecast a solar storm? Space weather experts explain
By Meredith Garofalo published
While the weekend solar event gave us quite the show in the night sky, it also helps scientists learn more about space weather to continue to improve forecasts.
![an image of the sun showing a large bright white spot on its bottom-right](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TQMbQuBLtsxPufqXy3iWmh-320-80.jpg)
Sun unleashes massive X8.7 solar flare, biggest of current cycle, from super-active monster sunspot (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
A monster sunspot on the sun's surface just won't quit, erupting yet again this week with a whopping X8.7-class solar flare on Tuesday (May 14).
![photo of the northern lights, showing light green and purple lights in a dark night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JTMn5HmcwBJtbgw9t9Tuj8-320-80.jpg)
How a giant sunspot unleashed solar storms that spawned global auroras that just dazzled us all
By Meredith Garofalo published
Intense solar activity generated the most extreme geomagnetic storm since 2003 on Friday (May 10), and the action could continue into this week. Here's how it happened.
![The silohettes of two people on a dazzling purple and green sky filled with auroras](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yEfPhWnHaXY9LaE5kZxv6P-320-80.jpg)
'Extreme' solar storms cook up sweet Mother's Day auroras for Moms everywhere
By Meredith Garofalo last updated
Want to save all the calories from Mother's Day brunch? You can still "sweeten" her holiday with an opportunity to see the northern lights again tonight!
![Massive solar flares erupt from the sun in two side by side views from Saturday, May 11, 2024 taken by a NASA spacecraft.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pvkU59MQ6WjhVGF9TACApd-320-80.png)
The stormy sun erupts with its biggest solar flare yet from a massive sunspot — and it's still crackling (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
Just when we think we’ve seen the most powerful of flares from a colossal sunspot, the sun unleashed kicked off the strongest eruption of the weekend yet and is still crackling with solar storms.
![spacecraft view of a patch of the sun's yellow surface, showing a large, dark, irregular sunspot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sLG3zdtMV7kZTZikgvNfBN-320-80.jpg)
Watch monster flare-spewing sunspot grow to be 15 times wider than Earth (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
A beastly sunspot that's 15 times the diameter of Earth remains highly active — and you might be able to spot it with your eclipse glasses!
![bright green auroras in the sky above a coastal scene in iceland](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Pgmxh6xv4To3yEtJquhvXA-320-80.jpg)
4 large incoming solar bursts could supercharge the auroras this weekend
By Meredith Garofalo published
The NOAA has bumped up its geomagnetic storm watch for May 11 to a "rare" level as solar activity continues at high levels and at least four coronal mass ejections propel toward Earth.
![close up view, from behind, of a black and white space plane in a dark room](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xN3zcF4ttRfof6VjRHisVn-320-80.jpg)
Sierra Space's 1st Dream Chaser space plane aces key tests. Next stop: Florida launch site.
By Meredith Garofalo published
Sierra Space's first Dream Chaser space plane has finished rigorous environmental testing in Ohio and is being prepped for the journey to its Florida launch site.
![Artist's illustration of the space station that Houston-based company Axiom Space plans to build in Earth orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X4sDdds9bKLVzZ8cWtkgU-320-80.jpg)
Axiom Space eyes the moon while continuing to dream big in Earth orbit
By Meredith Garofalo published
Axiom Space, which was founded in 2016, has already organized three private crewed missions to the International Space Station, and it's building the spacesuits for NASA's Artemis moonwalkers.
![Artist's impression of the Hakuto-R lander on the moon.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eDi36ZHc6NBJpK4FWpaQq6-320-80.jpg)
Private lunar lander to carry 'memory disk' of 275 human languages to the moon in 2024
By Meredith Garofalo published
ispace will send a time capsule of 275 human languages to the moon aboard a lunar lander as part of its Hakuto-R Mission 2 later this year.
![The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite captured its first view of the entire sunlit side of Earth from one million miles away on July 6, 2015.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A2zZsEd4niP9KVPJFpMyfH-320-80.jpg)
Next-gen satellites will paint a clearer picture of a changing Earth
By Meredith Garofalo published
From tracking hazards in the ocean to predicting the strength of hurricanes, NOAA's GeoXO series continues on the legacy of the GOES-R series — but with exciting upgrades.
![in a colorized view of the sun, a large bright spot emerges against a field of swirling green](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nvTdnNUruCyvDdoxuoA85f-320-80.jpg)
Sun unleashes X-class solar flare, radio blackouts reported (video)
By Meredith Garofalo published
A recently detected sunspot region unleashed a powerful X4.5 solar flare early Monday morning, causing radio blackouts throughout parts of the Eastern Hemisphere.
![a long metal tube on display in a museum](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SSPftHiWifhuhfauTif4EP-320-80.jpg)
'Lost' satellite found after orbiting undetected for 25 years
By Meredith Garofalo published
After 25 years of drifting undetected in space, an experimental satellite that launched in 1974 has been found using tracking data from the U.S. Space Force.
![silhouettes of two children looking up at the night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wp3gwf8KpSXaR8DXutLB4P-320-80.jpg)
Happy National Space Day 2024! Here's how 8 lucky kids can win a trip to Florida's Space Coast
By Meredith Garofalo published
For National Space Day, SpaceKids Global announces a competition to send eight kids to Florida for an adventure at Blue Origin and NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
![a mission badge showing the white silhouette of an arctic fox against a dark blue background. a white silhouette of a rocket lifts off in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QFyqosdei8wPbAVxzdFtai-320-80.jpg)
NASA selects Rocket Lab for back-to-back climate change research launches
By Meredith Garofalo published
NASA's PREFIRE mission will deploy a pair of satellites from twin launches aboard Rocket Lab's Electron rockets that will contribute to climate change studies in the Arctic and Antarctica.
![a red planet seen against the blackness of space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8jUFJVPBZr4CMEg4HcKNjJ-320-80.jpg)
NASA crew announced for simulated Mars mission next month
By Meredith Garofalo published
NASA picked a crew of four volunteers to undergo a simulation of life on Mars. The project will begin on May 10.
![a rectangular-bodied rover with three visible ribbed wheels, shines two lights from the top of a short mast at the top front of its body. It's visible side is a solar panel. The lights illuminate the grey surface immediately in front of the rover. A black sky hangs above.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vp35TfvdFu6ucnCrv2XrMA-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Viper moon rover gets its 'neck' and 'head' installed for mission later this year
By Meredith Garofalo published
With its "mighty mast," NASA's Polar Exploration Rover dubbed VIPER continues to be prepped for its mission to the moon slated for late 2024.
![a black and white rocket lifts off under a sunny blue sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e3PPNMfjfC4L2MqtMzBP8a-320-80.jpg)
US Space Force picks Rocket Lab for 2025 Victus Haze space domain awareness mission
By Meredith Garofalo published
A recent $32 million contract between the U.S. Space Force and Rocket Lab will lead to the creation of a spacecraft to enhance national security supporting space domain awareness.
![two images; the one on the left shows a small rectangle of glass covered in black dust; the one on the right shows a clear circle with no dust on the same glass rectangle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uDq92pG5L7TykoHrJFXenb-320-80.jpg)
Private moon mission to carry NASA electric moon dust shield in 2024
By Meredith Garofalo published
NASA is sending a technology demonstrator to the moon on the upcoming private Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 in order to test how to repel and remove lunar dust using electricity.
![an image of earth taken by a satellite, showing white wispy clouds over blue oceans and green landmasses](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rjdGi9hmMPhbd6Z7f3rcdT-320-80.png)
Earth Day 2024: Witness our changing planet in 12 incredible satellite images
By Meredith Garofalo published
To commemorate Earth Day, enjoy these 12 NOAA satellite images that showcase the different ways this critical technology helps scientists keep an eye on our planet.
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