QUIET WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF STORMS: Earth's magnetic field is quiet as our planet moves through a region of calm solar wind. Activity could increase on June 13th, however, when Earth enters a solar wind stream flowing from a small hole in the sun's atmosphere. NOAA forecasters say there is a 25% chance of minor geomagnetic storms. Free: Aurora Alerts.
SPRITES AND ANDROMEDA: Recent lightning storms over Europe have produced so many sprites, photographers have been able to frame them alongside other points of interest in the night sky. Last night, Petr Horálek of Proseč, Czech Republic, recorded a bunch of red sprites in the same exposure as the Andromeda galaxy:
"Our stormy weather has been perfect for capturing upper atmosphere lightning despite short solstice nights over the Czech Republic," says Horálek. "This bunch occurred over a large thunderstorm located about 300 km east of my observing site in Proseč, Czech Republic. As a bonus, a faint meteor fell in the view during the exposure, adding its green to the red of the sprites."
Sprites are a summertime phenomenon. The strange red forms are sparked by powerful electric fields in convective thunderstorms. Instead of lancing down like normal lightning, however, sprites reach up to the edge of space. The fact that they are occuring in such profusion before summer even begins suggests that 2018 could be an excellent year for sprites. Stay tuned for more sightings.
THE INTERSTELLAR BRIDGE: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. Venus is blazing through the twilight, brighter than anything in the sky except the sun and Moon. And it's not alone. As the twilight sky fades to black, the brightest stars of the constellation Gemini pop into view in almost perfect alignment with Venus:
.Piotr Majewski photographed the arrangement on June 11th from Toruń, Poland. "From left to right there were Venus, Pollux and Castor," says Majewski. "That is the real interstellar bridge ;) "
This alignment will break up in the nights ahead as Venus moves out of the constellation Gemini. Keep watching the sunset sky, though, because later this week the crescent Moon will join Venus for a new alignment. See it on June 15th and 16th.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
FATHER'S DAY SPECIAL: What do you get for the Dad who has everything? He probably doesn't have this: A 3D Moon globe laser-etched inside a crystal cube. And, oh yes, it has been to the edge of space:
The students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew a payload-full of these unique cubes to the stratosphere on June 3rd. You can have one for $149.95. They're selling them as a fund-raiser for their cosmic ray ballooning program.
Each Moon-cube comes with a unique gift card showing the item floating at the top of Earth's atmosphere. The interior of the card tells the story of the flight and confirms that this gift has been to the edge of space and back again. Dad-satisfaction guaranteed.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All proceeds support hands-on STEM education