CME STRIKE SPARKS GEOMAGNETIC STORMS: Geomagnetic storms are underway on July 16th following a CME strike at 0545 UT. Auroras have been sighted in New Zealand as well as US states such as Washington, Minnesota and Wyoming. Storm levels are currently flickering between G1 (minor) and G2 (moderately strong). High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras after local nightfall. Free: Aurora Alerts
Ian Griffin of New Zealand witnessed a magnificent outburst of auroras just after the CME hit. "I was observing at Hoopers Inlet on the Otago Peninsula," he says. "The colours and reflections on the inlet were truly beautiful. I was so excited I took this aurora selfie!"
At the other end of the Earth, Arctic summer sunlight overwhelmed auroras overhead. Citizen scientist Rob Stammes of the Polarlightcenter in Lofoten, Norway, detected the effects of the storm anyway ... in the ground beneath his feet.
"My instruments recorded a surge in ground currents shortly after the CME hit," he explains. The green curve denotes electricity flowing through the soil:
Ground currents are induced by the movement of Earth's magnetic field (the blue curve), rattling in response to the CME's impact. "I also detected a sudden increase in over-the-horizon radio signals (the yellow curve), indicating that the upper atmosphere was being ionized by the storm," he says.
SOLAR ECLIPSE SPACE PENDANTS: Would you like to support our Solar Eclipse Balloon Network? Here's one way: Buy a space pendant. This solar eclipse-themed necklace flew to the stratosphere on July 2, 2017, attached to the payload of an Earth to Sky Calculus space weather balloon:
The payload contained more just like it. If you buy one now for $79.95, we will fly it back to the stratosphere during the Great American Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017, where it will be enveloped by the Moon's cool shadow above our launch site in Oregon. No additional charge! Just make a note in the COMMENTS BOX of the shopping cart: "Please fly my pendant into the eclipse!" Each 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 items from the edge of space may be found in the Earth to Sky Store. All proceeds support atmospheric radiation monitoring and hands-on STEM education.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education
DEPARTING SUNSPOT: Big sunspot AR2665 is rotating toward the sun's western limb, turning away from Earth. "It is putting on quite a show as it departs," says Mike Taormina, who sends this picture from Malta, New York:
AR2665 still poses a threat for solar flares and CMEs, but future eruptions won't likely be Earth directed. Nevertheless, this sunspot will still affect our planet in the days ahead. A CME it hurled toward us two days ago is due to arrive on July 16th, sparking high-latitude auroras and moderately-strong geomagnetic storms. Free: Aurora Alerts