EXPLOSION ON THE SUN: On April 23rd around 0500 UT, a dark filament of magnetism on the sun exploded. See the movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. An analysis is underway to determine if any portion of the debris is heading for Earth. Stay tuned.
SOLAR WIND STORM: A solar wind storm is underway around Earth as our planet enters a high-speed stream of gas flowing from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the source of the wind on April 23rd:
This is a coronal hole (CH)--a place in the sun's atmosphere where the magnetic field peels back and allows solar wind to escape. Solar wind flowing from this hole is moving faster than 700 km/s--a veritable gale. Moreover, the wind is threaded with "negative polarity" magnetic fields. Such fields do a good job connecting to Earth's magnetosphere and energizing geomagnetic storms.
NOAA forecasters estimate a 80% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on April 23rd subsiding to 'only' 60% to 65% on April 24th and 25th as Earth moves through this potent stream of solar wind. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras. Free: Aurora Alerts
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
EARTH DAY AURORA SURPRISE: A bright CME that left the sun on April 19th was supposed to miss Earth. Instead, 3 days later, it hit, sparking a surprise display of auroras for Earth Day. Ayumi Bakken recorded this outburst of lights just outside Fairbanks, Alaska:
"It looked like a big 'dragon rage'," says Bakken. "Amazing pink and purple colored auroras painted the spring dawn sky."
Most auroras are green--a verdant glow caused by energetic particles from space hitting oxygen atoms 100 km to 300 km above Earth's surface. On Earth Day, however, the auroras outside Fairbanks were strongly fringed with pink. This is a sign of a different element. Pink appears when energetic particles descend lower than usual, striking nitrogen molecules at the 100 km level and below.
Pinks, purples, reds and many other colors were witnessed on Earth Day as G1- and G2-class geomagnetic storms lit up the poles at both ends of our planet. Browse the aurora gallery for sightings.
THESE PENDANTS HAVE TOUCHED SPACE: These pendants have touched space--and returned to Earth in time for Mother's Day. On April 15, 2017, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew a payload-full of heart-shaped Venus pendants to the stratosphere onboard a high-altitude helium balloon. Here's one, 111,550 feet above the Sierras of central California:
These blue jewels make great Mother's Day gifts--and you have have one for $99.95. Each glittering pendant comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
More far-out Mother's Day gifts may be found in the Earth to Sky Store. All proceeds support atmospheric radiation monitoring and hands-on STEM education.