GEOMAGNETIC UNREST EXPECTED: A hole in the sun's atmosphere is spewing solar wind toward Earth. Compared to other streams of solar wind that have recently buffeted our planet's magnetic field, this one appears to be minor. Nevertheless, NOAA forecasters say geomagnetic unrest is possible when the gaseous material arrives on Nov. 17-18. Arctic auroras are likely in the nights ahead. Free: Aurora Alerts.
THE STRANGE FATE OF THE MEXICAN SPACE CORN: On Nov. 10th, Spaceweather.com and Earth to Sky Calculus joined forces with students and professors from the Universidad Autonoma del Estado de México for the first-ever space weather balloon flight over Mexico. An ear of local red corn went along for the ride. This delicious astrobiology experiment aimed to compare the growth rate and morphology of corn exposed to cosmic rays to that of corn left behind on Earth. The corn traveled to the stratosphere, absorbed a dose of cosmic rays 200x greater than on the ground below, and parachuted back to Earth.
Then something strange happened.
When the recovery team found the payload in the Mexican backcountry, the corn was gone! Footage from the payload's video camera revealed its fate. Shortly after the corn landed, a group of Mexican cowboys drove a herd of cattle and horses right by the payload. The horses were delighted to find the corn. But before they could eat it, a ranch dog darted in and grabbed the corn for himself.
Without knowing any of this, the recovery team, which reached the payload after dark, immediately suspected animal involvement in the kidnapping of the corn. Piles of horse poop near the payload were a pungent clue. So they scoured the grass around the payload and, amazingly, found dozens of kernels that had not been swallowed by the hasty culprit. The astrobiology experiment was saved!
Bonus: The balloon over Mexico carried more than corn. It also lofted an array of X-ray, gamma-ray, and neutron sensors to measure cosmic rays in the atmosphere. In the next few days we will share the results of that experiment, showing how atmospheric radiation over Mexico compares to that of the USA.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
DOUBLE MOONBOW AND AURORAS: Seeing a rainbow at night: rare. Seeing a double rainbow at night: ridiculously rare. Seeing a double rainbow at night alongside the aurora borealis: "I couldn't believe my eyes," says Giuseppe Petricca who photographed the phenomenon on Nov. 7th from Stornoway, Eilean Siar, Scotland:
"Surely, this is a display that will remain in my memory forever," says Petricca. "Between fast moving rainclouds a gap formed, which lasted no more than two or three minutes. Beams of light from the full Moon lanced through the gap. The combination of falling raindrops and moonlight formed a lovely rainbow."
At the same time, a geomagnetic storm was underway. Parting clouds revealed a bright band of green auroras overhead, completing the unlikely scene.
Lunar rainbows are also called "moonbows." What made this moonbow a double? Moonlight reflecting once inside raindrops made the primary 'bow. A second reflection produced the double arc.
"I could continue on and on to describe this view, but I think that the picture does it way better," says says Petricca. "An unforgettable emotion!"
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
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