Solar

• Scientists discovered 27 mysterious frozen objects orbiting in the far reaches of the solar system beyond Neptune. • These tiny worlds are located in the distant outer regions of the solar system. • The discovery provides new data on the composition and movement of objects in the Kuiper Belt, the region of icy bodies beyond the outermost planet.

• The global graded silica sand market is projected to expand through 2035 due to increased demand for semiconductor fabrication and solar glass. • Consumption is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 4.5% to 5.5% in value terms. • Asia-Pacific will likely remain the largest regional market as China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan build more semiconductor fabs and solar glass capacity.

• French farmers tested a system of tilting solar panels flat over nectarine trees during forecast frost events in 2022 and 2023. • The method warmed flower buds by up to 1.7 degrees Celsius and reduced flower injury from 35 percent to under 10 percent. • This dual-use approach allows orchard owners to protect delicate fruit blossoms from unpredictable climate shifts while simultaneously generating electricity.

• Astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope to discover that the ring system of the small solar system body Chariklo is changing. • Researchers noted that the ability to detect these changes provides a new window for understanding how these systems evolve. • This discovery allows scientists to better understand the evolution of Chariklo's rings and potentially other ring systems throughout the solar system.

• NASA scientists used the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to study Trans-Neptunian Objects, which are icy bodies located beyond the orbit of Neptune. • The research focused on how these distant solar system objects retain chemical or physical signatures that reflect their past environments. • These findings help astronomers understand the early history and evolution of the solar system's outermost regions.

• NASA's Genesis spacecraft crash-landed in the Utah desert on September 8, 2004, after its parachutes failed to deploy. • The mission was the agency's first attempt to return samples to Earth since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. • A basic design flaw caused the crash, which shattered the collected solar wind particles gathered from the sun.

• NASA funded an early-stage spacecraft concept called "Slingshot" to develop new techniques for mapping minerals on the moon, asteroids, and Martian moons. • Project lead Sobron noted that landing in the wrong location could bankrupt a company or end an entire exploration program due to the high cost of failure. • This technology aims to reduce the financial risk of space mining by proving the existence of valuable resources before expensive landing missions occur.

A plug-in solar kit that costs about $1,000 ‘pays for itself in three years’, one expert saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMillions of Australians could be saving up to $370 a year on energy bills and doing their bit for the climate crisis if Labor followed the UK’s lead in legalising plug-in solar panels, an advocacy group has said.Plug-in solar refers to small standalone solar units that could be attached to balconies or used in back yards and plugged into power points, offsetting the energy used by household appliances. Continue reading...

DIY system will be stocked by big retailers, starting with Argos, enabling more homes to lower bills by generating own electricityPlug-in solar panels will go on sale in the UK for the first time from Thursday, allowing households unable to use rooftop panels to also generate their own cheap electricity.Households across the country will be able to join the millions across mainland Europe who generate their own renewable electricity using “balcony solar panels”, which will be stocked by some of the UK’s biggest retailers. Continue reading...

• On August 25, 1997, NASA launched the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite to study energetic particles traveling through space. • The mission specifically focuses on analyzing solar wind and monitoring space weather patterns. • This research is critical for understanding how solar activity affects the Earth's environment and technological infrastructure.

• A fleet of 17 spacecraft positioned across the solar system collaborated to track a single coronal mass ejection (CME) from multiple vantage points. • The coordinated measurements revealed that the eruption was lopsided, which caused a previously hidden cloud of charged particles to be directed toward Earth. • This discovery is significant because it demonstrates how multi-point observations can uncover the true extent and structure of solar eruptions that single-point views might miss.

• A fleet of 17 spacecraft positioned across the solar system collaborated to track a single coronal mass ejection (CME) from multiple vantage points. • The coordinated measurements revealed that the eruption was lopsided, which caused a previously hidden cloud of charged particles to be directed toward Earth. • This discovery is significant because it demonstrates how multi-point observations can uncover the true extent and structure of solar eruptions that single-point views might miss.

• NASA's Europa Clipper detected a "hidden" solar outburst that triggered a comprehensive investigation involving 17 different spacecraft. • The event revealed a strongly asymmetric Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that was detected near Earth and by STEREO-A 25 hours later, yet remained invisible to the nearby Solar Orbiter. • This discovery exposes a critical blind spot in current space-weather forecasting, as traditional models failed to predict the asymmetric nature of the outburst.

• NASA's Perseverance rover captured images of a solar eclipse occurring on the surface of Mars. • The event occurred as one of Mars' moons passed between the planet and the Sun, partially blocking the sunlight. • This observation provides valuable data on the orbital dynamics of Martian moons and the atmospheric conditions of the Red Planet.

• NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day highlights an upcoming total solar eclipse scheduled to occur over Spain on August 13, 2026. • The event provides a critical opportunity for scientists to study the solar corona and investigate why it remains millions of degrees hotter than the Sun's surface. • NASA encourages citizen scientists to participate by imaging the corona and recording environmental data, including air temperature, cloud cover, and wildlife behavior.

• The International Space Station (ISS) appeared as a silhouette across the face of the sun during a recent total solar eclipse. • This rare visual event occurred as the orbiting laboratory passed directly between the sun and observers on Earth. • The occurrence highlights the precise orbital alignment required to capture the ISS "photobombing" a major astronomical event.

Readers recall the breathtaking sight and community spirit of the rare celestial treat – and the handmade contraptions they saw it throughOn Wednesday evening, millions of people in Europe watched a rare solar eclipse. We asked some of them to share their photographs and experiences of this celestial treat. Here are some of their responses. Continue reading...

• Millions of people across Europe observed a significant solar eclipse, the most prominent event of its kind since 1999. • In the UK, more than 90% of the sun was obscured, while residents of Iceland and northern Spain experienced a total solar eclipse. • The event was uniquely marked by sports fans who brought protective eyewear to stadiums across the continent to view the phenomenon.

• Millions of tourists, astronomers, and eclipse chasers are flocking to Spain to witness a total solar eclipse, seeking the clearest skies for the two minutes of totality. • While Spain offers the best view, tens of millions more people across western Europe—including the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, and northern Italy—will experience a partial blockage of the sun. • The event is significant as it draws massive crowds to specific geographic paths to witness a rare celestial alignment.

• A total solar eclipse will occur today, August 12, visible from Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal. • A major partial eclipse will be visible across most of Europe, including Luxembourg, as well as parts of North America and northwestern Africa, peaking around 8:15 p.m. • Simultaneously, extreme heatwaves continue to affect much of Europe, with active warnings in force for the UK, Belgium, France, and central and eastern Europe.

• NASA is deploying high-altitude balloons and a specialized jet to study the total solar eclipse occurring on August 12. • The mission focuses on observing the sun's corona, a region of the solar atmosphere that is typically obscured by the sun's brightness. • This research is critical because the eclipse provides a unique opportunity to study the corona in ways impossible from any other location in the solar system.

People came from far and wide to witness phenomenon that has thrilled humans for thousands of yearsAt 6pm the beach and village began to empty, and those in the know headed up the hill towards the old granite coastguard station on the headland.“This is the best spot,” said Sennen Cove resident Lisa Redfern, who had built a pinhole camera for the eclipse out of an old Ryvita Thins box. Continue reading...

• NASA is launching a high-altitude air mission from Iceland to capture rare data and photographs during an upcoming solar eclipse. • Two aviators will fly a specialized aircraft along the path of totality to document the "slam of shadow" as the moon obscures the sun. • This mission is critical for gathering atmospheric and solar data that cannot be captured from the ground due to weather or geographic limitations.

Amid doubling prices and fraying tempers, shoppers hunt for elusive eyewear to prepare for rare eclipse of sun• Europe solar eclipse – latest updatesA secretive WhatsApp group was pinging with notifications throughout Wednesday, letting its members know where in London the latest “drop” would take place.The group’s focus, rather than being for an illicit substance, was for the much coveted eclipse glasses, which have prompted a frantic rush on shops before the celestial event. Continue reading...

Eclipse to be witnessed by tens of millions across western Europe as enthusiasts gather along path of totalityNicola Davis and Oliver HolmesA wide band of north and central Spain, plus a sliver of Portugal and parts of Greenland and Iceland will experience a rare total eclipse. Continue reading...

Event expected to hit solar power just as fifth heatwave of summer increases use of air conditioning and fansGreat Britain faces a shortfall of electricity supplies on Wednesday evening as the near total solar eclipse is expected to wipe out solar power generation.The government’s electricity grid operator raised an official alarm that there is currently not enough power generation expected as the moon blocks up to 95% of the sun over parts of the country, the most dramatic eclipse visible in Great Britain since 1999. Continue reading...

• A total solar eclipse is scheduled to occur on August 12, 2026, with the path of totality crossing Greenland and Spain. • Live reporting and expert updates are being provided as the event approaches to prepare observers for the celestial phenomenon. • This event is significant as it allows millions of people in the affected regions to experience the complete obscuration of the sun.

Rooms in Icelandic capital Reykjavík cost double usual rate and Spain also enjoying strong bookingsEurope’s total solar eclipse: the best place to see itHotel prices have surged in key European cities as hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to see the first total eclipse visible from the continent this century.Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, has seen one of the biggest jumps in hotel room prices, being one of the few accessible locations to see the full eclipse before evening on Wednesday. Continue reading...