GEOMAGNETIC UNREST EXPECTED: A stream of solar wind flowing from a hole in the sun's atmosphere is heading for Earth Estimated time of arrival: Nov. 14-15. NOAA forecasters say there is a 45% chance of minor geomagnetic storms when the gaseous material reaches our planet this week. Northern sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Free: Aurora Alerts.
SUNRISE CONJUNCTION: This morning, Nov. 13th, Venus and Jupiter converged in the eastern sky for a tight sunrise conjunction. At closest approach the two bright worlds were 0.3 degrees apart. Norman Carlson photographed the pair framed by the rosy glow of dawn over Tucson, Arizona:
"This photo shows how it looked to the human eye," says Carlson. "The two planets were so bright, you could see them even in morning twilight."
Did you miss it? The conjunction is breaking up now, but the separating planets will still be pleasingly close together on Tuesday morning, Nov. 14th. Look for them in the eastern sky about a half hour before local sunrise. [sky map]
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
THIS CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT HAS TOUCHED SPACE: On Nov. 2, 2017, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a space weather balloon to the stratosphere. These kids do science, and the payload of their balloon carried an array of cosmic ray sensors to measure radiation coming from deep space. Oh, and one more thing…. BB-8:
During the 2.5 hour flight, the plucky robot experienced temperatures as low as -67 C and cosmic ray dose rates 100x Earth-normal. After the balloon exploded 107,342 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California, BB-8 parachuted back to Earth, landing in the desert near Silver Peak, Nevada.
You can have BB-8 for $79.95. Each ornament comes with a unique gift card showing BB-8 floating at the top of Earth's atmosphere. The interior of the card tells the story of the flight. It also comes with a bonus photo of BB-8 in the stratosphere. Hang it on your Christmas tree alongside BB-8 to impress holiday visitors!
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education