This thread is down my alley, so to speak. The US official "Space Weather" (i.e. solar-terrestrial data, predictions, aurora, solar images) site is www.sec.noaa.gov - to see current conditions go to sss.sec.noaa.gov/SWN
SOHO data/images are very much operational - a quick link is on the front page at SpaceWx.com
It is an aging research satellite with a limited lifetime.
The new operational SXI data/images (at X-ray / EUV wavelengths) developed at NOAA/Space Environment Center are delayed several minutes or more due to telemetry/data processing constraints - but that is easily quick enough to be considered 'real time'.
SEC has been providing solar-terrestrial predictions for years - but the enormous complexity of solar-terrestrial physics and lack of remote sensors severely limit the accuracy (it would be like trying to predict the temperature in Miami from weather instruments in Colorado with 1955 technology) - but new advances are rapidly changing this (within the constraints of severe gov't budget cuts).
"Space Weather" - e.g. solar variabilty and solar wind/geomagnetic effects have significant effects on satellite drag and radiation survivability, radio communications, electrical power grids, and many other areas.
Slashdot Mirror
This thread is down my alley, so to speak. The US official "Space Weather" (i.e. solar-terrestrial data, predictions, aurora, solar images) site is www.sec.noaa.gov - to see current conditions go to sss.sec.noaa.gov/SWN SOHO data/images are very much operational - a quick link is on the front page at SpaceWx.com It is an aging research satellite with a limited lifetime. The new operational SXI data/images (at X-ray / EUV wavelengths) developed at NOAA/Space Environment Center are delayed several minutes or more due to telemetry/data processing constraints - but that is easily quick enough to be considered 'real time'. SEC has been providing solar-terrestrial predictions for years - but the enormous complexity of solar-terrestrial physics and lack of remote sensors severely limit the accuracy (it would be like trying to predict the temperature in Miami from weather instruments in Colorado with 1955 technology) - but new advances are rapidly changing this (within the constraints of severe gov't budget cuts). "Space Weather" - e.g. solar variabilty and solar wind/geomagnetic effects have significant effects on satellite drag and radiation survivability, radio communications, electrical power grids, and many other areas.