GEOMAGNETIC STORM PREDICTED: NOAA forecasters say there is a 45% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on Jan. 13th when a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) hits Earth's magnetic field. CIRs are transition zones between slow- and fast-moving solar wind streams. They contain shock-like density gradients and enhanced magnetic fields that can do a good job sparking polar auroras. Free: Aurora Alerts.
THE CARBON MONOXIDE COMET: Astronomers are marveling at the wild blue color and even wilder dynamics of Comet PanSTARRS (C/2016 R2), now approaching the sun beyond the orbit of Mars. Every day, it seems, another cloud of dusty gas billows down the comet's tail as gaseous jets swivel around the comet's core. This is what the comet looked like on Jan. 10th:
Amateur astronomer Gerald Rhemann took the picture from his private observatory in Farm Tivoli, Namibia. "This is a 56 minute guided exposure through a 12-inch telescope," he explains.
The comet's extraordinary behavior can be traced to one key ingredient: carbon monoxide (CO). The comet's core is spewing 4.7 x 1028 CO molecules into space every second, according to recent measurements at the Arizona Radio Observatory's 10-m Submillimeter Telescope. This accounts for the comet's lovely color (because ionized CO glows blue) and its hyperactivity. Carbon monoxide is extremely volatile. CO can sublimate (change suddenly from solid to gas) at temperatures as low as -248 C (25 K). Only a little bit of sunlight is required to turn deposits of frozen CO into wild jets and billowing clouds.
Where did all this CO come from? Many readers have asked this question, assuming perhaps that carbon monoxide is rare. On the contrary, carbon monoxide is one of the most common molecules found in interstellar space. Only diatomic hydrogen (H2) is more abundant. A quick look at the most common elements in the cosmos explains why:
Carbon and oxygen are among the most abundant atoms, second only to hydrogen and helium. C and O are cooked up inside stars via nucleosynthesis and scattered throughout space by stellar explosions. These species naturally get together to form CO. Interstellar CO was first detected with radio telescopes in 1970, and it is now a commonly used tracer of molecular gas in distant galaxies. It is hardly surprising that we occasionally find stores of this material inside comets--in this case, Comet PanSTARRS.
What will this CO-rich comet look like tomorrow? Stay tuned!
ASHES SCATTERED IN THE STRATOSPHERE: In August 2016, geologist Lee Allison, the director of the Arizona Geological Survey, passed away. On Dec. 31, 2017, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew his ashes to the stratosphere using a robotic ash scatterer. The space weather balloon flight, which also gathered data on atmospheric radiation, was sponsored by Lee's wife Ann Becker to honor Lee and mark the sky-high impact he had on colleagues, students, friends and family.
"Lee was always interested in space," says Ann, "and like a lot of us who grew up with the space program, he always wanted to go into space. Funding a balloon flight and spreading his ashes in the stratosphere are definitely things he would have appreciated.
"I grew up in central Wyoming. Our 9th grade earth science teachers conducted field science programs (geology and botany mostly) in the summer. I think science programs outside the normal school day can change a young person's trajectory. They certainly changed mine. Ultimately I studied geophysics and earned a PhD in seismology.
"I remember something my high school senior year AP calculus teacher said (1969, right after the Apollo 11 mission): that the boys in the class were the astronauts of the future, and the girls would be their wives and support them. I'm pleased that times have changed, pleased that there are programs like Earth to Sky Calculus that make it easier for young women to not bury their intelligence or interests because society says they're supposed to.
"Lee always supported women in geology," concludes Ann. "He was one of the founding members of the Salt Lake chapter of the Assn for Women Geoscientists. A STEM program like Earth to Sky Calculus is one he would support."
GLOWING 3D PRINTED MOON GLOBE: Looking for an over-the-Moon Valentine's gift? Consider this: On Jan. 4, 2017, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew this 3D printed Moon globe to the stratosphere:
The surface of the sphere is an accurate topo-map of lunar terrain, tracing every major crater and mountain range. It is also a night light. A built-in USB-rechargeable battery provides up to 20 hours of romantic illumination.
A helium-filled space weather balloon lifted the globe to the stratosphere, reaching an altitude of 36.3 km (119,095 ft) above California's Sierra Nevada mountains. After the balloon exploded, as planned, the payload parachuted back to Earth. The Moon was still glowing when the student recovery team found it in the wilderness.
You can have one for $149.95. Each glowing orb comes with a greeting card showing the Moon in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. Sales support the Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray ballooning program and hands-on STEM research.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery