2019 IS A DEEP SOLAR MINIMUM: Today, the sun racked up its 198th spotless day of the year. So far in 2019, the sun has been blank 73% of the time. This is the same percentage as the year 2008--previously the least sun-spotty year of the Space Age. If Solar Minimum continues to deepen, 2019 will soon claim the undisputed throne of Space Age spotlessness, marking it as a century-class minimum in solar activity.
WEEKEND GEOMAGNETIC STORM: On Friday, Sept. 27th, a solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field. The impact sparked weekend-long auroras around the Arctic Circle. At the peak of the G1-class geomagnetic storm, the lights over Alaska were so bright they beamed through rain and snow clouds. Sacha Layos photographed the display outside Fairbanks:
"A gorgeous dance between aurora and clouds took place in our skies Saturday night!" she says.
The original forecast called for moderately-strong G2-class geomagnetic storms over the weekend. Instead, only minor G1-class storms materialized. Why? Magnetic fields in the solar wind stream were weaker than expected. As a result, auroras were confined mainly to Arctic latitudes. No significant lights were sighted in northern-tier US states other than Alaska.
Better luck next time? Another solar wind stream is heading for Earth. The gaseous material is flowing from a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere. Estimated time of arrival: October 3rd and 4th. Stay tuned. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
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THAT'S NO MOON. IT'S A SPACE STATION: During this weekend's G1-class geomagnetic storm, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a cosmic ray balloon to the stratosphere. Their goal: To measure how geomagnetic storms affect atmospheric radiation. This Death Star went along for the ride:
You can have it for $129.95. The students are selling laser-etched crystal Death Stars to fund the Earth to Sky ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the iconic battle station in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. Also included: an LED-illuminated stand. This creates a colorful visual effect and allows the Death Star to be used as a far-out night light.
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