GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: NOAA forecasters say there is a 30% chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms on Aug. 31st when a fast moving stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The source of the wind is a canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras this Thursday night. Free: Aurora Alerts
FLY ME TO (THE SHADOW OF) THE MOON: Last week during the Great American Solar Eclipse, many sky watchers in the path of totality noticed contrails criss-crossing the sky, a sign of airplanes dipping in and out of the Moon's shadow. Wonder what they saw? Tom A. Warner was onboard one of those planes, and he shares this view from the window seat:
"We got the unique opportunity to view the solar eclipse from 39,000 ft over Alliance, Nebraska," says Warner. "We set up a holding pattern 20 minutes prior to the Moon's first contact with the sun and orbited within the totality shadow path while watching the eclipse progress."
"We saw the shadow of the Moon race towards us from the west and the sky went very dark as we entered," he says. "We could see lights on the ground, and the view of the Moon and corona was something we will never forget. Words and pictures will never be able to fully describe what we experienced or the emotions we felt."
Many people on the ground felt the same way. But you have to wonder ... was it even better 39,000 feet high? Travel tip: Book the window seat for April 8, 2024.
UNIQUE SOLAR ECLIPSE POSTERS: On August 21, 2017, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched 11 space weather balloons from the path of totality of the Great American Solar Eclipse. They aimed to photograph the Moon's shadow from the stratosphere--and they succeeded. By popular demand, we are now offering posters of the eclipse as seen from the edge of space. You can have one for $59.95:
These 18"x24" posters are printed on premium glossy paper and ready for framing. Each one comes with an information card describing the balloon flight and the location of the shadow.
Don't like this poster? There are more choices in the Earth to Sky Store. All proceeds support upper atmospheric research and STEM education.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education
AURORA SEASON IS BEGINNING: For reasons researchers do not fully understand, the weeks around equinoxes have more geomagnetic disturbances than any other time of year. Auroras love equinoxes. We are now just weeks away from the northern autumnal equinox and, right on cue, the auroras have appeared:
"Last night, my Northern Lights season finally kicked off with a beautiful aurora dancing in the sky," says photographer Göran Strand of Frösön, Sweden. "We're closing in on the autumnal equinox, so hopefully we will be getting more auroras in the coming weeks."
In addition to the equinox effect, it also helps that Arctic skies are darkening as the midnight sun sets after a long summer. Midnight is once again becoming a velvety-dark canvas where solar wind can paint the Northern Lights. Browse the aurora gallery for recent sightings --and stay tuned for more.