EARTH DODGES A METEOR STORM: On Oct. 8-9, European sky watchers were amazed when a flurry of faint meteors filled the sky at midnight. It was an outburst of the annual Draconids meteor shower. Turns out, that outburst was just the tip of the iceberg. Computer models show that Earth narrowly missed two streams of comet debris that would have caused significant meteor storms had they intersected our planet: full story.
GREEN RAIN FALLS ON NORWAY: Yesterday, Oct. 13th, a crack opened in Earth's magnetic field. Solar wind poured in, fueling a G1-class geomagnetic storm and bright auroras around the Arctic Circle. Colin Palmer video-recorded the display from Tromso, Norway:
"It was a fine G1 outburst with coronas and curtains lasting well over 10 minutes," says Palmer.
In aurora-speak, a "corona" is what you see when auroras appear directly overhead, seeming to rain down in a luminous cascade that traces the rain of energetic particles from space. Palmer captured several fine examples. In the video, pay special attention to the sequence beginning at the 25 second mark.
More green rain is likely today. NOAA forecasters say there is a 60% chance of renewed G1-class geomagnetic storms on Oct. 14th as Earth enters a stream of solar wind flowing from a hole in the sun's atmosphere. Free: Aurora Alerts.
A JEDI IN THE STRATOSPHERE: "When 100,000 feet you reach, look as good you will not." –Yoda, 2018. Yoda has flown to the stratosphere. On Aug. 30, 2018, he hitched a ride on board an Earth to Sky Calculus helium balloon, traveling more than 101,362 feet above Earth's surface:
The students are selling these Jedi Christmas ornaments to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. You can have one for $97.95.
Each ornament comes with a unique gift card showing Yoda floating at the top of Earth's atmosphere. The interior of the card tells the story of the flight and confirms that the Jedi master has been to the edge of space and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery