SOLAR WIND APPROACHES EARTH: Geomagnetic unrest is possible on March 20th when a stream of solar wind hits Earth's magnetic field. The gaseous material is flowing from a minor hole in the sun's atmosphere. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras mixed with full moonlight. Aurora Alerts: SMS text, email.
EARTH-FACING SUNSPOTS: Two sunspot groups are emerging on the Earth-facing side of the sun. They are inset in this magnetic map of the sun from from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on March 19th:
Sunspots are, essentially, islands of magnetism floating on the surface of the sun. Like all magnets they have poles, + and -. Sunspot AR2735 has a simple bipolar magnetic structure that identifies it as a member of old Solar Cycle 24.
The other sunspot, as yet unnumbered, has a more complicated structure with multiple magnetic poles. It is probably a member of old Solar Cycle 24 as well. The mixture of magnetic polarities makes it worth watching. Mixed-polarity magnetic fields can criss, cross, and explode--a process known as "magnetic reconnection" underlying solar flares.
The most likely outcome, however, is continued quiet as a deep Solar Minimum continues. Stay tuned for updates. Aurora Alerts: SMS text, email.
A GIFT FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: Don't just see the Northern Lights, wear them! To support their cosmic ray balloon program, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus have flown a payload of Northern Light Pendants to the edge of space. This one reached an altitude 109,908 feet above Earth's surface:
You can have it for $99.95. The students are selling these pendants 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
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery