Sun's Surprising Radio Bursts Captured by NASA Volunteers

As the Sun nears its peak activity in its eleven-year cycle, NASA volunteers have detected an unusual pattern in solar behavior. A team from NASA's Radio JOVE project, including undergraduate Thomas Freeman from Middle Tennessee State University, has observed an increase in 'Type II' solar radio bursts at lower frequencies, between 15 to 30 megahertz. These bursts, typically linked to solar flares and coronal mass ejections, are now appearing in the frequency range between FM and AM radio.

Prof. Chuck Higgins, co-founder of Radio JOVE, noted that these frequencies are not commonly detected, marking a significant observation. The findings allow scientists to extend their understanding of solar emissions to lower frequencies, potentially offering insights into solar phenomena further from the Sun.

Radio JOVE, a NASA citizen science initiative, enables participants to build and operate radio telescopes, contributing valuable data for scientific research. The project recently collaborated with the SunRISE Ground Radio Lab and high school teams to publish a paper on these findings.

For more information or to participate, visit the Radio JOVE website.