Solar map obtained at 18 GHz with the Medicina dish
Space weather
Space weather is the set of physical conditions that characterize interplanetary space within the Solar System, with particular reference to phenomena that can affect Earth. Indeed, electromagnetic radiation, plasma (charged particles), and magnetic fields interact with each other and with the Earth’s environment, producing effects that can affect both our planet and technological infrastructure in space and on the ground (such as electrical grids). The primary driver of these processes is the Sun, whose activity varies over time and can include intense, even “violent,” emissions of plasma and radiation. The study of space weather is based on observations conducted both from space and on the ground, using complementary instruments. The IRA participates in a pilot project, involving several national observatories, dedicated to space weather and solar physics. INAF radio telescopes are used for radio-band monitoring of solar activity, contributing both to the understanding of the physical processes occurring in our star and to the development of methods for analyzing and forecasting the most energetic phenomena.
The Institute of Radio Astronomy is involved in the following projects on the study of the Earth, the Sun and the solar system:
