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From here on Earth,
our Sun looks steady and unchanging,

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But, close up, 
it's a dynamic, active place.

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Loops of superheated
plasma followed tangled magnetic fields

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across the surface, while a steady stream
of electrically-charged particles,

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the solar wind, expands into space
in all directions.

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At times, there are bursts of radiation,
called solar flares,

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and explosions of plasma and magnetic
fields, called coronal mass ejections,

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sending solar storms racing off into space
through the solar wind.

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On Earth, we live in that
constant stream of solar wind

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protected by Earth's magnetic field.

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But, when the Sun suddenly unleashes
massive amounts of energy and material,

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our magnetic field can go haywire during
what's called a geomagnetic storm.

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In May 2024, the biggest
geomagnetic storm

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in over two decades hit Earth.

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The storm spread auroras
to unusually low latitudes,

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disrupted GPS-guided tractors, and forced
transatlantic flights to reroute.

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Storms like these are why NASA and NOAA

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constantly monitor the Sun's activity.

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NOAA provides real-time 
monitoring and forecasts of

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geomagnetic storms and other potentially
hazardous space weather events.

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While NASA's research advances
our understanding of the Sun's behavior

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and supports research
computer models used by NOAA.

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Our collaboration is vital to better
prepare for space weather.

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Together, we help protect our technology
on Earth, satellites in space,

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and astronauts as they head
to the Moon and Mars.