Matthew J West

A solar scientist interested in the extended solar atmosphere. I also dabble in a bit of art and outreach

[ESA Operations @esaoperations]

At ESA’s 2025 Ministerial Conference, the Space Safety Programme received significant support for its mission to predict, detect and mitigate space hazards, and to build towards a sustainable future in orbit. This is what we’re working on 👇

https://t.co/xaExkSbgWg

[ESA Operations @esaoperations]

Usually, we move a satellite out of the way of space debris. But what if we could prevent collisions by moving the debris instead? Meet OMLET: laser-based collision avoidance from the ground: https://t.co/uxQlZhhxnA

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

A fascinating space-weather event! 🌞
Great use of SOHO/EIT data (that green movie👇) to show how high-energy particles can impact satellites.
As SOHO marks 30 years, it’s a great reminder of how transformative this mission has been for heliophysics
☀️💨🛰️💨🌍 and space weather

[ESA Operations @esaoperations]

🛫 ☀️ When the Sun disrupts aviation

Did you know that #SpaceWeather can affect flights in surprising ways?

One phenomenon gaining attention is the impact of energetic charged particles - originating from our Sun and even distant stars - on aircraft electronics.

https://t.co/zGK4DjuUUI

[ESA Operations @esaoperations]

🛫 ☀️ When the Sun disrupts aviation

Did you know that #SpaceWeather can affect flights in surprising ways?

One phenomenon gaining attention is the impact of energetic charged particles - originating from our Sun and even distant stars - on aircraft electronics.

https://t.co/zGK4DjuUUI

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

Friday Fun:📣 New outreach poster: ESA’s Vigil Mission ☀️💨🛰️💨🌍

The Space-weather “reporter” will monitor the Sun from the Lagrange point 5, reporting 24/7 solar activity days before it reaches Earth.

https://t.co/vxvUgNvLFi

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

An interesting and very real example of why space-weather monitoring matters 👇

https://t.co/yZhUtlKJya

Events like this show why ESA’s Vigil mission is so important.

[SolarHam @SolarHam]

Eruptions off the north and east limbs on Wednesday evening. Another eruption was also just observed beyond the southern limb. Image by GOES-19 SUVI. https://t.co/aqK4Q6XdAY

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

Proud to have contributed to the new SCOSTEP roadmap 2026–30! SCOSTEP = the global body coordinating research on Sun–Earth connections. The new programme, COURSE, lays out scientific priorities for the next 5 years.

Exciting times ahead for heliophysics! https://t.co/8yYWWpQ54P

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

Proud to see ESA’s Vigil mission featured in the CRO Forum’s new report on space-related risks.

From L5, Vigil will boost early warning for solar storms — a key step for protecting critical infrastructure on Earth ☀️💨🛰️🌍

📄 https://t.co/xTQO3WSiPj

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

Here's a picture of me *not* driving an imaginary car 🚗 — but explaining how the consistent, calibrated nature of Vigil’s ☀️💨🛰️🌍data products will make them ideal for training and deployment with machine learning and AI forecasting tools at ESWW2025: https://t.co/1YdhPmPApH

[European Space Agency @esa]

Congestion and pollution in Earth orbit is quickly getting worse. We need to be able to quantify how our behaviour will impact the orbital environment in the future...
https://t.co/AG66U1ufwL

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

I like making confuse-o-grams that include *all* the details. Help me make this more confusing - what can I add that I'm missing?

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

@RyanJFrench I prefer silver river tbh

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

🎉Happy Hamilton Day! Sir William Hamilton gave us Hamiltonian mechanics⚙️
His formulation H=T+V underpins orbital dynamics, spacecraft trajectories, and plasma physics
No Hamiltonian Mechanics→No L5 Lagrange point→No perfect spot for a space-weather mission-ESA’s Vigil🌞💨🌍

[Dr. Ryan French @RyanJFrench]

There are multiple filaments (arches of cool plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere), currently on the Sun. Some are smaller, but others span HUGE longitudinal distances. If any of these erupt whilst facing Earth, we’d see strong geomagnetic storms as a result. Let’s wait and see!

[NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center @NWSSWPC]

Recurrent, negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream influence is likely to bring minor to moderate geomagnetic storming 25-26 June.

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

Another day, another solar and heliophysics first — @ORB_KSB & @esa created a unique eclipse in space! 🌍☀️🌘
The 1st🏅 formation-flying coronagraph: two spacecraft flying 150 m apart-perfectly aligned to block the Sun and reveal its hot corona
More info: https://t.co/mCpQQvKdlU

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

Looking at X-ray Flux Monitors today—instruments that detect solar X-ray bursts. Used in #SpaceWeather☀️☔ studies to understand solar☀️flares that can disrupt comms📡, satellites & aviation✈️. Attached X-ray light curve from 2014 shows confined flares-no associated eruptions

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

The Sun 🌞 — our source of space weather ☔ — needs constant watching. Who knows what it’ll throw at us next? @ESA #Vigil ☀️👁️‍🗨️🌍.
https://t.co/ZQPW8S0aRb

[Matthew J West @SolarPhysicist]

Preparing the camera for the eclipse