EXPERTS PREDICT A LONG, DEEP SOLAR MINIMUM: An international panel of researchers led by NASA and NOAA has released a new prediction for the solar cycle: The current solar minimum is going to deepen, potentially reaching a century-class low in the next year or so. This will be followed by a new Solar Max in the years 2023-2026. Get the full story here. Free: SWx Newsletter.
AURORA SEASON IS NOT OVER YET: Yesterday, April 15th, a stream of solar wind flowing from a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere brushed Earth's magnetic field. It was a minor interaction--just enough to spark auroras over Alaska. "Aurora season isn't over yet," says Ayumi Bakken of Fairbanks, who photographed the display:
"I woke up around 2:30am, then ran outside to see these lovely spring auroras," he says.
Soon, aurora season will be over at Arctic latitudes, where the summer sun wipes out dark skies even at midnight. But not yet. Another minor stream of solar wind is due to arrive on April 19th. A repeat display may be expected, mixing Arctic auroras with full moonlight at least one last time before summer.
SUNSPOT SUNRISE: Sunspot AR2738 is is three times wider than Earth and covers more than a billion square kilometers of the sun's surface. It's so big, people are seeing it in the sunrise. "I had a pleasant surprise this morning," reports Trevor Perry of Garrucha, Spain. "The giant sunspot was visible as the sun came up over the sea."
A close look at Perry's photo reveals more than the sunspot. The sun itself is sliced into multiple layers by temperature inversions over the sea surface, giving the solar disk a jagged edge. A zoomed-in image of the sunspot would have undoubtedly revealed similar distortions in its dark outline.
AR2738 is an unusually large sunspot, especially considering the low state of the solar cycle. Photographers around the world are busy taking its picture, with beautiful results. Browse the Realtime Photo Gallery for more.
Warning: Even when the sun is dimmed by low-hanging clouds or haze, it can still damage your eyes. Sunlight magnified by unfiltered optics is dangerously bright. If you chose to photograph the low sun, as Perry did, use the camera's LCD screen for safe viewfinding. Never look into the eyepiece of an unfiltered camera or telescope when the sun is in the field of view.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
MOTHER'S DAY IS LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY: Tell Mom how much you love her -- to the Moon and Back! On March 5th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched an array of cosmic ray sensors to the edge of space onboard a helium balloon. This Mother's Day pendant went along for the ride:
The silvery crescent declares "I love you to the Moon and Back" and surrounds a 14K gold plated heart labeled "Mom."
You can have it for $99.95. 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