Elana Resnick 💫

Our first speaker tonight is Elana Resnick!

Happening tonight in Baltimore!
#astronomy #science #spaceweather

🌟Heads up, Aurora Watchers, tonight could be an exciting event!

Yesterday's CME associated with the X1.9 flare is headed our way. Estimated to reach us starting 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT.

⚠️Meaning aurora may be observed starting at that time, even on the horizon in the lower U.S.

bit.ly/sunactivity

🌟 Storm update: The CME hit Earth at ~2:38 a.m. ET, driving G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm levels. If it’s dark where you are, look north—auroras may be visible far south of usual. Happy hunting! 🌌
More: bit.ly/sunactivity

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK08 Serial Number: 55 Issue Time: 2026 Jan 19 1943 UTC ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 8, 9- Threshold Reached: 2026 Jan 19 1938 UTC Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC Active Warning: Yes NOAA Scale: G4 - Severe Comment: Currently at a Kp8- NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 45 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Induced Currents - Possible widespread voltage control problems and some protective systems may mistakenly trip out key assets from the power grid. Induced pipeline currents intensify. Spacecraft - Systems may experience surface charging; increased drag on low earth orbit satellites, and tracking and orientation problems may occur. Navigation - Satellite navigation (GPS) degraded or inoperable for hours. Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation sporadic or blacked out. Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and northern California.

:Product: 3-Day Forecast :Issued: 2026 Jan 19 1230 UTC # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # A. NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 4 (below NOAA Scale levels). The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Jan 19-Jan 21 2026 is 8.00 (NOAA Scale G4). NOAA Kp index breakdown Jan 19-Jan 21 2026 Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21 00-03UT 3.33 5.00 (G1) 4.33 03-06UT 1.67 5.67 (G2) 4.67 (G1) 06-09UT 0.67 8.00 (G4) 4.00 09-12UT 1.00 5.67 (G2) 3.00 12-15UT 3.33 6.67 (G3) 2.33 15-18UT 3.33 6.00 (G2) 2.67 18-21UT 3.00 5.33 (G1) 2.00 21-00UT 4.33 5.00 (G1) 3.00 Rationale: G3-G4 (Strong-Severe) geomagnetic storms are likely on early on 20 Jan due to the anticipated arrival of a halo CME that left the Sun on 18 Jan. B. NOAA Solar Radiation Activity Observation and Forecast Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-18 over the past 24 hours, was above S-scale storm level thresholds. Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for Jan 19-Jan 21 2026 Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21 S1 or greater 99% 95% 65% Rationale: S1-S3 (Minor-Strong) solar radiation storms are expected to continue through at least 20 Jan. With S1 (Minor) conditions likely on 21 Jan due to influence from an approaching CME. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast Radio blackouts reaching the R3 levels were observed over the past 24 hours. The largest was at Jan 18 2026 1809 UTC. Radio Blackout Forecast for Jan 19-Jan 21 2026 Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 21 R1-R2 65% 65% 65% R3 or greater 20% 20% 20% Rationale: R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts are likely, with a slight chance for R3 (Strong), over 19-21 Jan due primarily to the flare potential from Region 4341.

Map from NOAA titled showing North America and the North Pole with a color gradient overlay of aurora likelihood.

Map from NOAA titled showing North America and the North Pole with a color gradient overlay of aurora likelihood.

Aurora Forecast Update for 2026-01-19T19:50:03Z

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 8, 9-
Threshold Reached: 2026 Jan 19 1938 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G4 - Severe
Additional Details Here.

There are also space weather forecasters working 24/7 throughout the mission. They work with Mission Control and provide information for them to assess the possible risks.

Advertisement for Astronomy on Tap Baltimore's upcoming January 22nd event, which begins at 7:00 pm, and features three speakers giving talks about space and Earth science. Photo includes a view of Earth from orbit with the aurora borealis.

Astronomy on Tap is Coming Out of Winter Hibernation! Join us next Thursday, January 22nd, at Guilford Hall Brewery for an exciting evening of space *and* Earth science knowledge!

Doors open at 7:00 pm, talks start at 7:30 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public!

Logo of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) displayed over a vivid cosmic background with text "Expanding the Frontiers of Space Astronomy."

OPPORTUNITY: The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD, is searching for a Principal Astronomical Data Scientist to help advance our data analysis tools for our NASA flagship missions primarily in areas of data visualization: https://bit.ly/4jEvObm

In the Baltimore, MD area on January 22nd? Looking for something to do? Come out to Astronomy on Tap and hear some sweet science talks! 🧪🔭☀️🌎

NASA has provided a timeline for the launch windows of the upcoming Artemis II mission 👇

a picture of the aurora borealis with the words viralhog on the bottom right ALT: a picture of the aurora borealis with the words viralhog on the bottom right

Astronomy on Tap Baltimore is coming out of winter hibernation to bring you another exciting evening of SPAAAAAACE KNOOOOOOWLEDGE!!!

Join us on Thursday, January 22nd, at Guilford Hall Brewery for the first AoT of 2026!

Frontiers | Explore space weather and the heliophysics big year through the Community Coordinated Modeling Center’s (CCMC) hands-on tools and collaborations The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has developed comprehensive resources and initiatives to support the Hel...

Thrilled to announce my first first-author paper is published! It provides a mini-review of the Community Coordinated Modeling Center’s educational and public outreach reports highlighting the Heliophysics Big Year for the Frontiers special topic issue.

www.frontiersin.org/journals/ast...

Missed the official launch earlier today?

The Roman Research Nexus is now live—a cloud-based environment to explore simulated Roman datasets, run notebooks, and prepare for Roman’s petabyte-scale data.

🔗 Get started: bit.ly/4aHn4P4

#RomanResearchNexus
#Nexus
#AAS247

Tricorder Tech For Everyone: NASA's STELLA Open Science Instrument - Astrobiology NASA has just authored apaper on a new way for people with a wide variety of interests to use - and build - sensor technology that is a preview of the devices we will use to explore other planets.

Fun new article about a cool project at #NASAGoddard called Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment (STELLA) just dropped! Excited to share it with y’all!

astrobiology.com/2026/01/tric...

#nasaroman #nasa

Was fortunate enough to spend my lunch break at #NASAGoddard watching the Nancy Roman Space Telescope 🔭 @roman-telescope.bsky.social open for one of the last times before it gets packed up and sent to space next year! roman.gsfc.nasa.gov

Most of us don't realize how many objects (payloads and debris) are in orbit around Earth.

orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/protection/

NASA’s PUNCH Spies Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS - NASA Science NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during its passage through the

Now it can (finally) be told. We've been tracking Comet 3I more or less continuously with PUNCH. Everything is fine. 3I is definitely very interesting – but it is most definitely *not* an alien spaceship undergoing maneuvers, no matter what that Boston guy says. ☀️🛰️🔭🧪 #3I #comet #not_aliens

mars rover socks showing zoomed in view perseverance rover analysing a rock and ingenuity flying above

james webb space telescope christmas ornament

jwst jewelry set featuring earrings and pendant necklace based on the 18 hexagon primary mirror

Curiosity rover wheel pendant necklace in sterling silver being held in hand

🎂 It's #ScienceSocks 6th anniversary! 🥳

Celebrate with me by raising money for #STEM! 🤑

For the next 48h I will donate:

* 20% of sales on sciencesocks.co 👈
* $1 per repost

Get a head start on #holiday shopping 😎

Please like, repost and let's party🕺💃

🔭🐡🧪🎨#bsnm

XKCD meaning of auroras cartoon, showing "normal" at poles, "cool and exciting" in temperate zone, "someone should go check on our satellites" in subtropics, and "A bunch of open questions in Solar-Terrestrial physics are about to be answered" at the tropics

Tapping the XKCD sign again to explain that no, I won't be seeing an aurora tonight. Or at least I really hope not. That would be bad. :)

#aurora

#aurora

Faint pink aurora in the sky behind a tree

The aurora came back and moved!
#heliophysics ☀️

Faint aurora in the sky

Taken at 8:30 PM ET near Baltimore, MD!

The Northern Lights glow behind a suburban home. The sky is streaked with maroon seafoam green, and pink, while the stars twinkle behind them.

Bluesky rn:

"So what is wrong with Ameri ... hold on ... OMG NORTHERN LIGHTS BRB."

(I'm a joiner.)

In 2025 we take every ounce of joy we can find!

Slar disc showing its hot, diffuse and turbulent atmosphere. Near the equatorial region on the right there is a dark heart shape.

There’s a heart-shaped feature in the Sun’s corona - seen in a recent SDO’s A193 filtered image, which captures the hot solar atmosphere.

❤️☀️

The Sun’s sending its love to Earth … cause nothing says love like an X-class flares and series of proton showers! 😅

View of the aurorasaurus webpage with aurora alerts

Thank you to everyone making reports on aurorasaurus.org! #heliophysics☀️

Faint aurora in the sky

I saw it too near Baltimore!

Faint aurora in the sky

Another one!