The First Space Weather Prediction

In the mid 18th century, little was known about the nature of space weather. The aurora had been observed for centuries, but its nature and cause remained enigmatic. The discovery of magnetic disturbances, on the other hand, was relatively new, and no one knew what to make of this unusual phenomenon. However, a few pioneering scientists (including a name well-known today, Anders Celsius) made significant strides in understanding the connections between the aurora and magnetic measurements; their new scientific insights enabled the first space weather prediction to be made a few years later.