EXPLOSION ON THE SUN: On April 23rd, a dark filament of magnetism on the sun exploded. See the movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. A new analysis shows that debris from the explosion will not hit Earth. There is, however, plenty of space weather without it. Read on...
SOLAR WIND STORM SPARKS AURORAS: Earth is inside a stream of solar wind spewing from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere. Fitfully blowing faster than 700 km/s, the wind's gusty pressure on Earth's magnetic field is sparking bright auroras around the poles. Air traveler J. Palys was flying 30,000 feet over Greenland last night when he saw this from the window seat:
"Spectacular in-flight entertainment on my flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt last night," he says. "As we flew over Greenland, I saw a bright, colorful and very dynamic display of aurora borealis."
These polar lights will probably dance for at least one more night as Earth continues its passage through the solar wind stream. Gaseous material in this stream 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 60% chance of G1-class storms in the next 24 hours. Free: Aurora Alerts
MARCHING FOR SCIENCE IN THE STRATOSPHERE: On April 22nd during the worldwide March for Science, Spaceweather.com teamed up with the students of Earth to Sky Calculus for a march to the stratosphere. We decided to honor a modern champion of science, the US National Park Ranger, by launching a ranger figurine to the edge of space.
Carried aloft by a giant helium balloon, he soared 34.1 km (111,900 feet) above Earth's surface. At the apex of the flight, the balloon exploded (as planned) and the payload parachuted back to Earth, landing in a wilderness area near Lida, Nevada. The ranger traveled alongside an array of radiation sensors that we use on a regular basis to monitor cosmic rays in Earth's atmosphere.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
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.