HERE COMES THE TAURID SWARM: Earth is about to have a close encounter with a meteoroid swarm. In June 2019, the Taurid Swarm will make its closest post-perihelion approach to our planet since 1975. Researchers have long known that the swarm is filled with pebble-sized debris that can cause spectacular fireballs when they hit the atmosphere. Now, evidence is mounting that the swarm may be hiding much larger objects, such as the Tunguska impactor that leveled a forest in Siberia in 1908. Are we in any danger? Find out here.
AMAZING SATELLITE DISPLAY: On May 23rd, SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites onboard a single Falcon 9 rocket. It was the first step of a very ambitious plan to surround the planet and provide Internet service to every corner of the globe. Last night, sky watchers got a glimpse of the Starlink swarm. "It was one of the most spectacular things I have every seen," reports Marco Langbroek, who made this video in Leiden, the Netherlands:
"I could see the entire train of satellites with the unaided eye," he says. "They were bright."
Cees Bassa, who also video-recorded the train from the Netherlands, estimates that they were shining like 2nd or 3rd magnitude stars. "It was fantastic! I could see them even through thin clouds."
Across the Atlantic Ocean in Wiscasset, Maine, US Air Force Lt. Col (ret) Mark Welborn saw them, too. "I was outside enjoying the night sky, soaking in the hot tub. At approximately 11:42 pm Eastern Daylight Time I witnessed the most remarkable phenomena I have ever seen in the night sky. It looked like a string of bright stars moving in a very straight line."
We've received additional reports from Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Colorado. Stay tuned for updates.
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
FAR-OUT FATHER'S DAY GIFT: Father's Day is only 3 weeks away. Is your dad a Trekkie? Here's a gift to make him live long and prosper. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched the Enterprise to the stratosphere. Riding onboard a high-altitude cosmic ray balloon, the laser-etched crystal spaceship traveled 34.7 km (113,845 feet) above Earth's surface:
You can have it for $149.95. The students are selling the Enterprise to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each starship comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. Also included is a multi-colored LED stand. This creates a colorful visual effect and allows the Enterprise to be used as a far-out night light.
Dad-satisfaction guaranteed!
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Noctilucent Cloud Photo Gallery