COSMIC RAY UPDATE: Something ironic is happening in Earth's atmosphere. Solar activity is low--very low. Yet atmospheric radiation is heading in the opposite direction. Cosmic rays percolating through the air around us are at a 5 year high. What's going on? Get the full story here.
VENUS IN A DROPLET OF WATER: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look southwest. Better yet, look southwest through a droplet of water. "I tried it last night and saw Venus," reports Paolo Bardelli of Sumirago (Varese), Italy. He took this picture using a zoom lens on his Canon 70D digital camera:
"The Evening Star was clearly visible in this water droplet suspended from the low-hanging branch of a nearby tree," explains Bardelli. "We had clear skies, and the golden glow of sunset was visible in the droplet as well."
If any of this confuses you, try looking at it this way. Water droplets act as inverting lenses, so the sunset is upside down in Bardelli's photo.
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SOLAR WIND, INCOMING: A hole in the sun's atmosphere is facing Earth and spraying a stream of solar wind in our direction. Estimated time of arrival: Dec. 18th. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for a brightening of auroras when the gaseous material arrives. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
We've seen this hole before. It has been spinning around with sun, strobing Earth with solar wind once every ~26 days for the past 7 months. Previous encounters have produced G1- and G2-class geomagnetic storms. Recently, however, the hole has started to close, reducing the potency of its solar wind stream. Full-fledged geomagnetic storms are not likely this time around.
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CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: So far in 2019, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus have launched 41 space weather balloons to the stratosphere, measuring cosmic rays over 2 continents and 6 different US states. You can help them pay their helium bill by purchasing a Christmas gift from the edge of space:
Every item in the Earth to Sky Store has flown to the stratosphere alongside an array of cosmic ray sensors. Carried aloft by giant helium balloons, these unique gifts travel above 99.7% of Earth's atmosphere, experiencing space-like blasts of cosmic rays, extreme cold, and a wild ride parachuting back to Earth after the balloon explodes. Even Amazon doesn't carry items this far out.
Don't forget to enter coupon code "XMASRAYS" at checkout for a 10% holiday discount.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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