Did you miss the aurora surprise of August 7th? Next time get a wake-up call: Spaceweather PHONE.
MORNING PLANETS: If you're up at dawn tomorrow, dash outside and look east. Three planets and the crescent Moon are gathering together just ahead of the rising sun. Look, it's a nice way to begin the day. [sky map]
MAGNETIC STORM: Last night, a geomagnetic storm sent spectacular auroras rippling across Scandinavia: "It was almost scary to see the 'flames' in the sky," says Chris Folde of Selbu, Norway. "I've never experienced anything like it."
Across the border in Sweden, the auroras had competition from the midnight sun. No problem. "The display was so strong, I was able to take many pictures," says Patricia Cowern of Porjus, Sweden:
Auroras over Sweden on Aug 19.. Note the twilight-blue glow from the Arctic sun.
What caused all this? Around mid-day on August 19th, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) tipped south, opening a crack in Earth's magnetic defenses. Solar wind poured in and fueled the display.
August 2006 Aurora Gallery
BIRD OF PREY: "Look at the filaments around sunspot 904! It reminded me of a Klingon Bird of Prey," says Cameran Ashraf of Claremont, California, who took this picture yesterday:
Sunspot 904--the view through a Coronado SolarMax60 filter.
Unfortunately for photographers (and fans of Star Trek) sunspot 904 is approaching the sun's western limb. On Monday it will go over the edge and disappear from view. Catch it while you can!
more images: from Gary Palmer of Los Angeles, CA; from Eric Roel of Valle de Bravo, Mèxico; from Ingmar Glass of München/Weißenfeld Germany; from Didier Favre of Brétigny sur Orge, France.
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