NASA’s PUNCH Sharpens Solar Storm Forecasting in First Test

NASA's PUNCH instrument successfully demonstrated its ability to forecast approaching solar storms with remarkable precision during a recent test. Scientists utilized ongoing data streams from PUNCH, which observes the Sun’s corona and heliosphere, to predict the imminent arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME). This prediction achieved accuracy within just 30 minutes of the CME’s projected near-Earth trajectory. The demonstration occurred as part of an initial proof of concept, showcasing PUNCH’s potential for improved space weather forecasting. These findings were presented at the Committee on Space Research Scientific Meeting and are currently under review for publication in the journal *Space Weather*.