ANDROID FLYBYS: Our field-tested satellite tracker is now available for Android phones. Features: Global predictions and flyby alarms! Learn more. | | | ISS-LUNAR CONJUNCTION: Click here to see a spaceship fly past the Moon. Peter Rosén recorded the encounter last night when the International Space Station (ISS) soared over Stockholm, Sweden. The ISS is currently performing a "marathon" of flybys over towns and cities around the world, sometimes 3 to 5 times a night, increasing the chances of such conjunctions. Check the Simple Satellite Tracker for viewing times. more images: from Michał Nyklewicz of Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland; from Alan Dyer near Gleichen, Alberta; from Monika Landy-Gyebnar of Veszprem, Hungary; from Mark Humpage of Lutterworth, UK AURORAS VS. MIDNIGHT SUN: A gust of solar wind hit Earth's magnetic field on June 30th, sparking a G1-class (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm. There is no doubt that Northern Lights were dancing around the Arctic Circle. It would have been a good show--except for the midnight sun: "This is what our 'night sky' looked like around 1 am local time," says Rob Stammes on the Lofoten islands of Norway (68.39N) almost two degrees above the Arctic Circle. "At the same moment I was photographing the midnight sun, my magnetometer indicated a geomagnetic storm in progress. I wonder what we missed?" Meanwhile, at the other end of the planet, wintry-dark south polar skies provided a lovely backdrop for the aurora australis. Readers at the Amundsen-Scott Station, please submit your pictures here. STORKS AND SPACE WEATHER: This week, sky watchers in northern Europe are witnessing an intense display of electric-blue noctilucent clouds. It's a veritable "NLC storm." Storks are enjoying the show, too: "Each year in late spring, thousands of storks (Ciconia ciconia) arrive in Poland," reports Marek Nikodem of Szubin, Poland. "Last night I caught one nesting during the most beautiful display of NLCs this year." Summer is the season for NLCs, and the recent solstice seems to have kicked these mysterious clouds into high gear. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for electric blue after sunset. more images: from Aurimas Dirse of Vilnius, Lithuania; from Darius Gasiunas of Ignalina, Lithuania; from Janis Satrovskis of Burtnieki, Latvia; from Mariusz Rudziński of Mirostowice Dolne, Poland; from Lars Zielke of Nightsky Observatory, Tvis, Denmark; from Martin McKenna of Maghera, Co. Derry, N. Ireland; from Barbara Grudzinska of Warsaw,Poland Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery [Science@NASA: Big Lunar Eclipse] [astronomy alerts] May 2010 Aurora Gallery [previous Mays: 2008, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002] [aurora alerts] |