GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY: A stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth's magnetic field today, sparking auroras around the Arctic Circle. The gaseous material is flowing from a gash in the sun's atmosphere so wide that Earth may be inside the emerging stream for another 2 to 3 days. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of polar geomagnetic activity on March 16th and 17th. Free: Aurora Alerts
EQUINOX AURORAS: "Last night was again tremendous in Senja, Norway," reports aurora photographer Adrien Mauduit. "The arrival of the solar wind gave us five consecutive coronas (auroras that appear to rain down from above) including an extremely bright one that started near the southern horizon, then developed northwards until it was directly overhead."
"What a night!" he adds.
The solar wind stream that sparked this display was not particularly fast or strong. What made the auroras so bright? They were boosted by the "Russell-McPherron effect." During weeks around equinoxes, cracks open in Earth's magnetic field allowing even gentle gusts of solar wind to ignite intense Arctic lights. This effect will continue in the nights ahead as the vernal equinox approaches and the solar wind continues to blow. Free: Aurora Alerts
MEET THE EASTERNAUTS: Easter is coming early this year: April 1, 2018--hence the flight of the Easternauts. To support their cosmic ray ballooning program, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus have launched a payload full of bunnies to the edge of space:
You can have one for $49.95. (Space helmet included!) They make great Easter gifts for young scientists, and all proceeds support STEM education. Each bunny comes with a greeting card showing the Easternaut in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education
MUST-SEE AURORA MOVIE: On March 14th, deep inside the Arctic Circle, photographer Oliver Wright stood outside in the cold waiting for the solar wind to arrive. Suddenly, the sky erupted in a swirling cauldron of color--"possibly the best I've ever seen," says Wright, who has been leading aurora tours for years in Abisko, Sweden. Turn up the volume and listen to the cries of delight in Wright's 3 minute video:
"My fingers got so cold taking this video," he says, "but it was worth it."
Watch the video again and pay special attention to the moments after 1:30. Those dynamic swirls of pink are caused by energetic particles reaching unusually deep into Earth's atmosphere, interacting with nitrogen molecules to produce a pink glow so intense that it sometimes appeared white.
This outburst was caused by a crack forming in Earth's magnetic field. Ambient solar wind (not the high-speed stream Wright was waiting for) poured in to fuel the display. Magnetic cracks occur more frequently than usual during weeks around equinoxes, which make this a great time of year for Arctic lights. Free: Aurora Alerts
