| NOAA Kp index breakdown | Mar 24-Mar 26 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 24 | Mar 25 | Mar 26 | |
| 00-03UT | 6.67 (G3) | 3.67 | 2.67 |
| 03-06UT | 7.67 (G4) | 4.67 (G1) | 3.33 |
| 06-09UT | 6.67 (G3) | 4.33 | 4.67 (G1) |
| 09-12UT | 4.33 | 4.00 | 3.67 |
| 12-15UT | 4.67 (G1) | 4.00 | 3.67 |
| 15-18UT | 5.67 (G2) | 4.00 | 3.33 |
| 18-21UT | 2.67 | 4.33 | 3.00 |
| 21-00UT | 3.67 | 4.33 | 3.00 |
| Aurora rocket BROR launched from Esrange |
|---|
| At 7.23 pm (CET) on 23 March, the sounding rocket BROR was launched from Esrange Space Center to an altitude of 240 km where it created a spectacular auroral light show on the evening sky. The research will deepen our knowledge about northern lights and space weather and how they affect us on Earth.
The data from the experiment will be used by IRF scientists in Kiruna to study conditions in near-Earth space which is an important piece of the aurora research puzzle that can enable better forecasts of the Sun's activity and how its solar wind of charged particles affect critical infrastructure on Earth and satellites. |
| Sweden's sky lights up with northern lights research |
| Researchers at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics sent up the rocket from the Esrange Space Center in the country's far north, releasing materials similar to those in fireworks into the sky at an altitude of between 100-200 kilometers (62-124 miles).
Waves of greenish-white lights could be seen across the dark sky just after 1830 GMT above the northern Swedish town of Kiruna and within a 200-kilometer radius. Somewhat less spectacular than the real northern lights, the experiment ended up blocking out a real aurora borealis occurring naturally. The experiment was part of aurora research aimed at helping scientists improve near-space weather forecasts to protect satellites and critical infrastructures. In the experiment, barium was released from aluminum cylinders to create the effect. |
