CME IMPACT POSSIBLE THIS WEEK: A coronal mass ejection (CME) could hit Earth's magnetic field on Sept. 25th, sparking minor geomagnetic storms. The jet-like CME (still image, movie) left the sun on Sept. 20th when a magnetic filament in the sun's southern hemisphere exploded. Even a glancing blow from the CME could spark bright Arctic auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.

A BIG HOLE IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE: Even if the CME misses, we're about to have a geomagnetic storm. A big hole in the sun's atmosphere is spewing solar wind into space, and it is turning to face Earth:

Extreme ultraviolet image credit: NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory

This is the same hole that firehosed our planet on Sept. 1st, sparking bright auroras in both hemispheres--even in some US states. It's back for another round. NOAA forecasters say that G2-class geomagnetic storms are possible when the gaseous material arrives on Sept. 27-28. Solar wind speeds could exceed 750 km/s. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.

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AURORAS--NO GEOMAGNETIC STORM REQUIRED: Last night outside Fairbanks, Alaska, curtains of green descended from the sky. "It started just after sunset on Sept. 23rd," reports  Sacha Layos, who photographed the display:

"The first wisps were visible by 9pm--still twilight," she says. "By 10 pm, a very nice set of auroras had developed to the north."

There was no geomagnetic storm in progress when Layos saw the lights. None was required. At this time of year, during nights around the equinox, cracks can open in Earth's magnetic field--a phenomenon called the "Russell-McPherron effect." Solar wind pours in to spark high-latitude auroras. Bonus: Dirk S.Miller of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, saw them, too.

PURPLE HEART SPACE PENDANT: Nothing says "I Love You" like a heart-shaped pendant from the edge of space. Last week, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew an array of cosmic ray sensors to the stratosphere onboard a giant helium balloon. This purple heart went along for the ride:

You can have it for $129.95. The students are selling these pendants as a fund-raiser for their cosmic ray monitoring program. They make great anniversary, birthday and Christmas gifts. 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
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