NO STORMS, ONLY AURORAS: For the second day in a row, a stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth's magnetic field. The gentle action of the stream has been just enough to spark intermittent auroras around the Arctic Circle, but so far no geomagnetic storms. Minor storms may yet occur, however, as Earth is expected to remain inside the stream for another 24 to 36 hours. Free: Aurora Alerts.
NAKED-EYE COMET WIRTANEN: Observers around the world are reporting that Comet 46P/Wirtanen is now visible to the naked eye. "I saw it--just barely--from the countryside near Ustupky in the Czech Republic," says Petr Horálek. "It was rather dim and diffuse, but I'm sure it was there." He set up his Canon 6D digital camera for a "Wirtanen selfie," and the 30 second exposure easily captured the comet's green color:
The comet is now shining like a (big fuzzy) star of 5th magnitude in the constellation Eridanus. Its faint glow is easily overwhelmed by city lights, but under the dark skies of a rural landscape the comet may be seen without any optics.
The view will improve in the nights ahead. Comet 46P/Wirtanen is nearing Earth for one of the 10 closest Earth-comet encounters of the Space Age. At closest approach on Dec. 16th, the green comet will be nicely positioned in the constellation Taurus for easy viewing by observers in the northern hemisphere, and its brightness could be 3 to 10 times what it is now. Use these sky maps to plan your own comet selfie: Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15, Dec. 16
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: So far in 2018, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus have launched 42 space weather balloons to the stratosphere, measuring cosmic rays over 3 continents, 2 hemispheres, and 7 different US states. You can help them pay their helium bill by purchasing a Christmas gift from the edge of space:
Every item in the Earth to Sky Store has flown to the stratosphere alongside an array of cosmic ray sensors. Carried aloft by giant balloons, these unique gifts travel above 99.7% of Earth's atmosphere, experiencing space-like blasts of cosmic rays, extreme cold, and a wild ride parachuting back to Earth after the balloon explodes. Even Amazon doesn't carry items this far out!
Don't forget to enter coupon code "SPACESANTA" at checkout for a 10% holiday discount.
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