MINOR GEOMAGNETIC UNREST TODAY: A minor solar wind stream is buffeting Earth's magnetic field on April 8th, and this is causing geomagnetic unrest just below the level of a G1-class geomagnetic storm. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras mixed with waxing Spring twilight. Aurora alerts: SMS text, email.
A BIG NEW SUNSPOT: A new sunspot is rotating over the sun's eastern limb, and it's a big one. Numbered AR2738, the sunspot's primary dark core is big enough to swallow Earth, as shown in this image taken by amateur astronomer Giampaolo Salvato of Padova, Italy:
"I took this picture using my homemade refractor telescope and a Daystar Quantum solar filter," says Salvato. "The picture of Earth is inserted for scale."
The magnetic polarity of AR2738 identifies it as a member of old Solar Cycle 24. Apparently, the decaying solar cycle still has some potency. Can this sunspot produce strong flares? We won't know until it turns more directly toward Earth in the days ahead. Then we can see more clearly the structure of its magnetic field and evaluate the potential for explosiveness. Stay tuned! Solar flare alerts: SMS text, email.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
WATCHING AURORAS IN YOUR UNDERWEAR: Early this morning, hours before sunrise in Alaska, a minor stream of solar wind buffeted Earth's magnetic field. "I had just gotten up to use the bathroom when I happened to look out the window. The auroras were active!" recounts Bernard Marschner of Fairbanks. "Wearing only my BVDs, I threw on a coat and slipped on some shoes and ran out side to take some photos."
"The Inua, indigenous people who live near here, surmised the dancing lights were the spirits of their ancestors dancing in the skies. With today being the birthday of my father, some 30 years deceased, I could only hear him asking me why I was wandering around the neighborhood in my underwear!" laughs Marschner.
"So here are the photos of my father dancing in the skies on his birthday!"
A MOTHER'S DAY GIFT FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: It's sterling silver and it comes from space. On March 22nd, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew a cosmic ray balloon to the stratosphere, more than 119,400 feet above Earth's surface. This "Eternal Love" Mother's Day pendant went along for the ride:
You can have one for $129.95. The students are selling these pendants as a fund-raiser for their cosmic ray monitoring program. The pendant is made of sterling silver and the mother holding her baby inside the heart is plated in gold.
Each pendant comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery