ARTIFICIAL CLOUD DISPLAY POSTPONED: On June 4th, clouds prompted NASA to postpone a sounding rocket launch to dispense red and blue-green vapors ~100 miles over the Atlantic Coast of the USA. The next launch attempt from Wallops Flight Facility will occur no earlier than June 11th. Researchers hope to track the motions of the colorful gases to study the dynamics of Earth's ionosphere. Visit the mission blog for updates.
RED SPRITES OVER EUROPE: High above thunderstorms in Europe, red sprites are dancing across the cloudtops. Martin Popek of Nýdek, Czech republic, photographed these specimens on June 1st:
"The transient forms were shooting up from a storm in Slovenia," says Popek.
Reaching up to the edge of space, sprites are a true space weather phenomenon. Some researchers believe they are linked to cosmic rays: subatomic particles from deep space striking the top of Earth's atmosphere produce secondary electrons that, in turn, provide the spark that triggers sprites. If this is true, then sprites could multiply in the years ahead as cosmic rays intensify due to the decline of the solar cycle.
Although sprites have been seen for at least a century, most scientists did not believe they existed until after 1989 when sprites were photographed by cameras onboard the space shuttle. Now "sprite chasers" routinely photograph sprites from their own homes. "I used up a Watec 910HX security camera with UFOCapture software to catch my sprites," says Popek. Give it a try!
diagram: How to Look for Sprites
THE SPACE HAMMER FOR FATHER'S DAY: Just in time for Father's Day: The Space Hammer. On June 2nd, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew a payload of hammers to the edge of space, 35.0 km (115,000 feet) above Earth's surface on board a high altitude helium balloon. You can have one for $99.95:
These compact 8 oz. hammers are light enough to fly on a balloon yet dense enough to deliver a powerful blow. The magnetic head holds a nail for one-handed starting, and the stubby 6 in. length is perfect for tight work areas.
Each space hammer comes with a unique gift card showing the tool floating at the top of Earth's atmosphere. The interior of the card tells the story of the flight and confirms that this gift has been to the edge of space and back again.
More edge of space Father's Day gifts may be found in the Earth to Sky Store.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education
FAILURE TO LAUNCH: Explosions on the sun can hurl massive clouds of plasma into space. But liftoff is not always easy. Play this Jue 3rd movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and watch the plasma fountain denoted by the arrow:
The plasma cloud shoots up ... and then it comes right back down again. A magnetic loop on the sun intercepted the material as it lifted off the stellar surface and guided it back down again. Splat. For every plasma cloud that does leave the sun, many more are trapped by the sun's thicket of local magnetic fields.
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Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Realtime Noctilucent Cloud Photo Gallery