EXITING THE SOLAR WIND STREAM: Earth is beginning to exit a stream of solar wind that has sparked bright auroras around both poles in recent days. We're not out of the stream yet, though. NOAA forecasters estimate a 60% chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms on April 25th and 26th as the solar wind pressure slowly subsides. Free: Aurora Alerts
A QUAKE IN EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD: When a CME from the sun struck Earth on April 22nd, our planet's magnetic field reverberated from the impact. A day later, a stream of solar wind arrived, hit, and had the same effect. In Lancashire, England, a magnetometer operated by Stuart Green captured the quaking of Earth's magnetic field:
"The data clearly show when the relative calm was shattered on April 21st at around 16:30 (UT) when the CME struck, being quickly followed by fast flowing solar wind from a large and persistent coronal hole," says Green. "The rumblings have been continuing through the intervening days."
Vibrations in the magnetic field allow particles normally trapped in our planet's magnetosphere to rain down around the poles, igniting auroras. Thomas J. Spence was camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota on April 22nd when the sky suddenly lit up:
DRIPPING SUN MIRAGE: When a swimmer steps out of the sea, he or she naturally drips into the water below. This morning over the Mediterranean, the rising sun appeared to do the same thing. Mohamad Soltanolkotabi photographed the dripping orb from Mataro, Spain:
"The strange shape of the sun, known as the Omega Sun, is an atmospheric phenomena. The lower sun is not a reflection from the water," Soltanolkotabi explained. "It is a mirage caused by warm air and a strong temperature gradient just above the Mediterranean sea surface."
"The current sunspot AR2652 may also seen on the face of the sun," he points out.
Warning: Even when the low-hanging sun is dimmed by clouds or haze, it can still damage your eyes. Sunlight magnified by unfiltered optics is dangerously bright. If you chose to photograph the low sun, as Soltanolkotabi did, use the camera's LCD screen for safe viewfinding. Never look into the eyepiece of an unfiltered camera or telescope when the sun is in the field of view.
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.