GEOMAGNETIC STORMS UNDERWAY NOW: A G2-class geomagnetic storm is underway on Sept. 27th as Earth moves into a stream of fast-moving solar wind. Storms like this do not rank as major space weather events, but they have been known to spark Northern Lights as far south as, e.g., New York, Idaho, and Washington. Free: Aurora Alerts
THE SOLAR WIND HAS ARRIVED: As predicted, a stream of high-speed solar wind reached Earth on Sept. 27th and disturbed the tranquility of our planet's magnetic field. First contact produced a spray of bright auroras over Alaska. Ayumi Bakken sends this picture from the countryside outside Fairbanks:
"The auroras were gorgeous," says Bakken.
The instigating solar wind is flowing from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere. Earth should be inside the stream for at least two days. NOAA forecasters estimate a 65% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Sept. 27th, increasing to 80% on Sept. 28th. Isolated periods of G2-class storming could push Northern Lights into US states as far south as. e.g., New York, Idaho, and Washington. Free: Aurora Alerts
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART PENDANTS: On Aug. 21st during the Great American Solar Eclipse, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched 11 space weather balloons from the path of totality. They aimed to photograph the Moon's shadow from the stratosphere--and they succeeded. As a fundraiser, some of the balloons carried jewelry, such as this heart-shaped pendant floating inside the Moon's shadow more than 100,000 feet above Oregon's Malheur National Forest:
During the 2.5 hour flight, the pendants were wrapped in the Moon's shadow for more than two minutes, experiencing a spooky darkness colder than -50 C.
You can have one for $149.95. Each limited-quantity pendant comes with a unique gift card showing the jewelry passing through the Moon's shadow and 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.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education