GEOMAGNETIC STORM--UNDERWAY NOW: Earth is entering a stream of fast-movinig solar wind flowing from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere. Solar wind speeds are currently topping 700 km/s. This is causing G1-class geomagnetic storms--underway now. The storm could intensify to category G2 in the hours ahead if the pace of the solar wind quickens even more. Stay tuned! Aurora alerts: SMS Text
STEVE VISITS ESTONIA: First contact with today's solar wind stream has not yet sparked widespread auroras. It did, however, summon STEVE. "I think I may have just had my first sighting of STEVE," reports Tarmo Tanilsoo, who sends this picture from Laguja, Estonia:
"The ribbon-like feature appeared in NW sky and slowly crawled westwards until it eventually faded nearly due west," describes Tanilsoo.
STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) looks like an aurora, but it is not. The phenomenon is caused by hot (3000°C) ribbons of gas flowing through Earth’s magnetosphere at speeds exceeding 6 km/s (13,000 mph). These ribbons appear during some geomagnetic storms, revealing themselves by their soft purple/mauve glow.
The last time a significant solar wind stream hit Earth, on Aug. 31-Sept. 1, STEVE was sighted in Canada and many northern-tier US states. Sky watchers should remain alert for the phenomenon this weekend.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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THE FULL MOON PENDANT: Poets, lovers, and artists have long known this simple truth: Nothing is more romantic than a full Moon. Now you can give the full Moon as a gift--the full Moon space pendant, that is. This one flew to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon:
You can have it for $119.95. The students are selling these spherical glass pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a Valentine's card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education