Kp3 Podcast

One of the world's leading aurora researchers, Dr. David Knudsen, takes us on a deep dive into Earth's magnetic field for a closer look at what University of Calgary's research is revealing about plasma and the currents that power Canada's Northern Lights. For aurora photographers and northern skywatchers this is pure brain food – essential knowledge of the invisible forces and energy sources behind every aurora photo you take – along with a recipe for toast that you've definitely never heard before.

S2E1 Sources and Resources

European Space Agency: SWARM-ESA

University of Calgary: SWARM-Aurora

University of Calgary: SWARM Discovery (Press Release)

University of Calgary: THEMIS (Pan-Territorial Mosaic)

Essential Reading: The Aurora Watcher's Handbook (by Neil Davis)

The Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com features a monthly look at the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora! Join host James Pugsley for in-depth interviews with northern skywatchers and experts from across North America as we explore the missions, the discoveries and the mysteries behind Canada's Northern Lights.

This episode is entirely dedicated to suggestions from listeners like you, and sets the stage for new wave of interactive features beginning in March! We're taking a few weeks to set up a Facebook Group, ponder how live events will work and we're booking our first special guest (find out more: connect to the Kp3 Podcast section at www.astronomynorth.com for the announcement!) In the meantime, keep sending us your questions and suggestions via e-mail to [email protected] and keep an eye on the northern sky by watching one of the live feed cameras in the links below!

Episode 14 Sources & Resources

Astronomynorth.com: AuroraMAX (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories)

Explore.org: Northern Lights Cam (Churchill, Manitoba)

Geophysical Institute: All-Sky Camera (Fairbanks, Alaska)

University of Calgary: THEMIS (Pan-territorial Mosaic)

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.

In episode 13, we ponder "What's Up" in the northern sky this week and gather the latest solar-terrestrial science news, including a new study that suggests major Earth-directed solar storms may be more common than previously thought. And with the full moon now starting to wane, you'll have a stellar time listening to this week's aurora forecast for Northern Canada and Alaska!

Episode 13 Sources & Resources

CNN: Solar Orbiter Mission Launch

Forbes.com: Stunning Northern Lights Revealed in Final Images of Saturn From NASA's Cassini Spacecraft

Live Science: Devastating Solar Storms Could Be Far More Common Than We Thought

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.

Oxygen in Earth's upper atmosphere is leaking into the "Cusp" – a narrow gap in Earth's magnetic field found near the North and South magnetic poles – and scientists are trying to figure out why. See the mysteries of the Cusp in our Video of the Week selection entitled "Launching Rockets Through the Leak in Earth's Atmosphere". Plus, what's in the sky this weekend, questions from listeners and the weekend aurora forecast for Northern Canada and Alaska!

Episode 12 Sources & Resources

NASA: On the Cusp of Understanding

Video of the Week: Launching Rockets Through the Leak in Earth's Atmosphere

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.

This episode explores "What's Up" in the northern sky this week, with the latest and greatest news from the frontiers of geospace, including a newly discovered auroral form known as "The Dunes!" And with enhanced solar wind speeds expected to impact Earth this week, don't miss our aurora forecast for Northern Canada and Alaska!

Episode 11 Sources & Resources

AGU Release: Citizen Scientists Discover New Type of Aurora Named "The Dunes"

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.

Episode 10 pays tribute to the Sun and Arctic communities that celebrate the Sun. The Kp3 Video of the Week, entitled "Seeing Inside the Sun," is narrated by Professor Robert Stein of Michigan State University, a solar research pioneer who introduces how supercomputers have transformed our understanding of the Sun, and how enormous solar and magnetic field data sets now power the most advanced models and visualizations of the Sun ever created. Plus, host James Pugsley answers a pair of sunny questions, and sheds new light on the weekend aurora forecast for northern Canada and Alaska!

Episode 10 Sources & Resources

NASA: Solar Storms and Space Weather FAQ / Article: How Big Are Sunspots?

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.

This episode looks at "What's Up" in the northern sky this week (a timely blend of astronomy, aeronomy and atmospheric optics for northern sky aficionados), and we explore the latest aurora research headlines, including some stratospheric mysteries that inspired this week's rocket launch from the Poker Flat Research Range near Fairbanks, Alaska. And don't miss this week's aurora forecast for Northern Canada and Alaska!

Episode 9 Sources & Resources:Anchorage Daily News / Poker Flat Research Range YouTube Channel / Poker Flat Research Range website (Geophysical Institute – University of Alaska Fairbanks) / University of Texas at Arlington Press Release

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.

In this episode we take a look at the past week of geomagnetic activity, host James Pugsley provides an update on how to locate Venus, Mars and the Andromeda galaxy in the northern sky. Plus, Andromeda is featured in the Kp3 Video of the Week entitled "How Far Away Is It – Andromeda and the Local Group", a great weekend watch if you're looking for some galactic perspective, produced and narrated by David Butler. And, last but not least, we come back down to Earth to discuss the weekend aurora forecast for communities across Northern Canada and Alaska.

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.

Episode 7 takes a look at "What's Up" in Canada's northern sky this week, and host James Pugsley explores some cool geospace headlines, including a story about electric currents detected in the soil under the Polar Light Centre in Laukvik Lofoten, Norway, along with a significant new magnetic reconnection discovery that was made by NASA's THEMIS satellites. And, of course, we take a closer look at this week's aurora forecast for Northern Canada and Alaska.

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.

In this episode we pay tribute to Voyager 1 and Carl Sagan for inspiring us to think about our place in the cosmos (check out Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot, our Video of the Week), and we explore your magnetic latitude. Find out why your proximity to the North geomagnetic pole can make a huge difference when it comes to aurora viewing. And don't miss the weekend aurora forecast for Northern Canada and Alaska!

The all-new Kp3 Podcast on Astronomynorth.com explores the frontiers of geospace and all things aurora. Hosted by James Pugsley, Kp3 features weekend aurora forecasts for Northern Canada and Alaska, solar cycle and geomagnetic storm updates, app reviews, media alerts, photography, special guests and all sorts of conversations about the nature, culture and wonder of Canada's northern sky.