GEOMAGNETIC UNREST POSSIBLE TODAY: Earth's magnetic field could become unsettled on March 15-16 when a stream of solar wind reaches our planet. The gaseous material is flowing from a canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere. Because this hole has only recently opened, the speed and magnetization of the emerging stream is unknown, which adds uncertainty to the forecast. Aurora Alerts: SMS text, email.
THE SOURCE OF AURORA BOREALIS: For thousands of years, Arctic sky watchers have marveled the Northern Lights and wondered, where do they come from? "After two decades of photographing auroras in the Lapland of Sweden, I may have finally found the answer," says Peter Rosén of Kiruna, Sweden. "They appear to be coming from my sauna!" Here is the evidence from March 14th:
"Old folklore says it is due to the mirroring effect of schools of herring in the ocean (Norway), an Arctic fox moving its tail (Finland), spirits who play football with the skull of a walrus (Inuits) or the spirits of the dead people (the Sami in Sweden)," says Rosén. "What do you think?"
Not having access to Rosén's sauna, NASA researchers have come up with a different explanation. It's a little more complicated, but may be correct. Watch the movie, then read the summary below:
Solar wind buffets Earth's magnetic field, loading magnetic field lines with electrified plasma and causing the field to quiver and vibrate with latent energy. Thus charged, Earth's magnetosphere crackles with explosions. Magnetic lines of force cross, cancel, reconnect and—Bang! Magnetic energy is unleashed, with charged-particles flying off near the speed of light. These particles stream down toward Earth's poles, igniting the Northern Lights.
A MOONSTONE AT THE EDGE OF SPACE: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Nothing says "I love you" like a moonstone from the edge of space. Last month, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew this moonstone wrapped in a sterling silver Celtic love knot 34.1 km (111,877 feet) above Earth's surface:
You can have it for $139.95. The students are selling these pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. 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
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery