A SUNSPOT FROM THE NEXT SOLAR CYCLE: Over the weekend, a magnetically reversed sunspot appeared in the sun's northern hemisphere. Its high latitude and "backwards" magnetic polarity mark it as a member of the next solar cycle. Is Solar Minimum over? Not even close, but this development does suggest that Solar Cycle 25 is stirring: full story.
AN OUTBURST OF RAINBOW-COLORED AURORAS: Northern lights are often green, sometimes red, and rarely pink or blue. On Nov. 19th, an outburst of Northern Lights over Tromsø, Norway, painted the sky with all the colors of the rainbow. Aurora tour guide Marianne Bergli photographed the outburst:
"At first the night was quiet with little activity," says Bergli. "Just after some of the bigger groups around us left, the skies came alive with dancing auroras everywhere. Good things come to those who wait."
Aurora colors are associated with specific atoms and molecules in Earth's atmosphere. Green is due to energetic particles hitting oxygen atoms at altitudes between 100 km and 200 km. Red is caused by oxygen atoms, too, but higher up, above 200 km. Nitrogen molecules glow pink below 100 km, while nitrogen ions glow blue above 100 km.
The full palette was on display on Nov. 19th, with particles from space activating atoms, ions, and molecules at all altitudes. Says Bergli, "Wow, what a show!" Free: Aurora Alerts
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
A GIFT FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: Once a week, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launch a cosmic ray balloon to the stratosphere--a regular part of their atmospheric radiation monitoring program. Last week, a spiral galaxy went along for the ride, flying 113,517 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $149.95. The students are selling Galaxy Globes to pay their helium bill. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. All sales support the Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray ballooning program and hands-on STEM research.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education