SUNSET PLANETS: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. If you have a clear view of the horizon, you can see Venus and Mercury beaming together through the rosy glow of sunset. The two bright planets are little more than 1 degree apart. It's a beautiful view. Browse: photo gallery.
AN EXPLOSION OF AURORAS OVER FINLAND: As predicted, a stream of solar wind brushed against Earth's magnetic field during the early hours of March 4th. First contact with the gaseous material ignited bright auroras around the Arctic Circle. "The entire sky exploded in green, with fast moving auroras, full of needles and even a few purple fringes!" reports tour guide Rayann Elzein, who sends this picture from Inari, Finland:
"The bright Moon could not do anything to disturb the show," he adds. "I heard several loud wows from my guests, and I knew the evening was a big success."
The solar wind came from a northern hole in the sun's atmosphere. Most of the gaseous material sailed north of our planet, but the initial impulse of the grazing stream was enough to cause bright polar auroras. Another, similar stream of solar wind is expected to reach Earth on March 7th or 8th, and more auroras are likely at that time. Free: Aurora Alerts
CROWD-FUNDING SPACE WEATHER RESEARCH: Did you know that cosmic rays in Earth's atmosphere are intensifying? It's true, and we are monitoring the phenomenon with regular space weather balloon flights to the stratosphere. This student science program is not supported by any government grant or corporate sponsorship. Instead, we raise our research funds by selling these:
On Jan. 27, 2018, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew a payload-full of moonstone pendants 115,158 ft above Earth's surface. You can have one for $179.95.
Each necklace comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space and back. 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