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 14:41:14 UTC

Planet	Longitude
The Sun	10 Sco 40' 12"
The Moon	22 Sco 35' 03"
Mercury	29 Sco 43' 57"
Venus	19 Sag 02' 26"
Mars	29 Can 27' 28"
Jupiter	20 Gem 21' 36" R
Saturn	12 Pis 50' 23" R
Uranus	25 Tau 50' 12" R
Neptune	27 Pis 28' 16" R
Pluto	29 Cap 45' 13"

Solar Status

BZ Status:	10
Proton Density:	2.53
Proton Speed:	469.4 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. Growth was noted in Regions 3871 (S09W76, Dai/beta-gamma) and 3881 (S09E14, Dai/beta), while the remaining regions were mostly stable. No Earth-directed CMEs were detected in available data.
Solar Wind
Solar wind parameters were enhanced late in the period with sustained negative Bz. Total field strength ranged 6-12 nT and the Bz component varied +8/-12 nT. Solar wind speeds ranged from 400-500 km/s.
Energetic Particle
The greater than 10 MeV proton flux was at elevated levels but remained below the S-scale event threshold. 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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