According to GI Professor Emeritus Chuck Deehr, a solar event occurred on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. The effects of the event are expected to reach Earth on Monday September 26. This is not directed toward Earth, but some effects will be felt. Watch the short term forecast for the most up-to-date information. Currently, aurora is predicted to be active both Monday and Tuesday.

More details on the aurora forecast available here.

Charles Deehr, Geophysical Institute aurora forecaster has issued an Aurora Alert:

The effects of the solar events of last week have reached Earth and a large magnetic storm is in progress.  The aurora associated with this storm has already covered Scandinavia.  It was visible in Central Europe during the night on Friday, September 9.  

For more than a decade Roger Smith has presided over the Geophysical Institute, serving as the chief administrator for all aspects of the facility. With roughly 300 employees, a $30 million budget and active research underway, the job has proven it takes both mental and physical stamina. Despite challenges experienced in the position, the outgoing director feels he’s met the goals he set out to achieve at the start of his administration.

In 2010, a telescopic imager that Poker Flat Research Range Optical Science Manager Don Hampton helped design more than a decade ago captured the glowing knuckles and smooth waistline of the comet Hartley 2, which is perhaps a fragment of the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. 

The sun’s sluggish activity over the last year has sent many faithful aurora watchers to the experts at the Geophysical Institute. They want to know why there are so few aurora-filled nights and when they can expect the bands and curls of light to reappear in the night sky. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer to their questions.

Come meet representatives from Johnson Space Center, Jet Propulsion Lab, and Ames Research Center. Explore possible collaborations in research and education.

Make yourself more competitive in proposing to Alaska Space Grant and Alaska NASA EPSCoR Research Initiation Solicitations.

This is the ideal venue to make connections and sell your research ideas. Come find out how your discipline connects, NASA’s interests are very broad.

Where: Globe Room, Elvey Building

According to long-time GI Aurora Forecaster Chuck Deehr, a large solar event occurred near the central part of the sun on Aug. 2, 2011. Effects of the flare are expected to arrive at Earth on the evening of August 3 (GMT). High auroral activity is forecasted for the night of August 3, and perhaps the night of August 4.

More information available at http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast.

Speaker: Prof. Chanchal Uberoi from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

Prof. Chanchal Uberoi is well-known for her work on Alfven waves, magnetic reconnection, etc.

Date: Monday, August 1st

Time: 3:45 pm

Place: Globe Room, Elvey Building

As reported by DIXI meeting coordinator Don Hampton:

The Deep Impact EXtended Investigation science team met at the Geophysical Institute from June 21 through June 26 to discuss the results of the flyby of comet Hartley 2 on Nov. 8, 2010. The comet flyby was accomplished using the repurposed Deep Impact spacecraft that was originally used to observe a spacecraft impact with comet Tempel 1 in 2005.