The British Met Office is going to start providing daily space weather forecasts.

The Met Office is the UK’s National Weather Service akin to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration here in the U.S.  The two entities are teaming up to provide better and more accurate space weather forecasts starting next spring.

Space weather happens when the Sun’s activity intersects with the Earths atmosphere/magnetosphere.  Bad things can happen from satellite failures, power grid outages, cellphone and radio interference, the air travel cancellations.

Mark Gibbs, head of space weather at the Met Office, said: “Space weather is a relatively immature science but understanding is growing rapidly.”

With Virgin Galactic and others starting commercial space flights in the near future, the better the space weather predictions, the safer the travel (and return trip) will be.

– Ex astris, scientia –

I am and avid amateur astronomer and intellectual property attorney in Pasadena, California and I am a Rising Star as rated by Super Lawyers Magazine.  As a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, I am a proud member of the Armed Service Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association working to aid all active duty and veterans in our communities. Connect with me on Google +

Norman