COSMIC RAYS APPROACH THE SPACE AGE RECORD: This weekend, cosmic rays penetrating Earth's atmosphere came within a percentage point of the Space Age record. Because of Solar Minimum, the sun's magnetic field has been weakening, allowing extra cosmic rays into the Solar System. If current trends continue, a new record could be set in 2020. Watch the counts increase right here on Spaceweather.com.
AURORA SURPRISE: No geomagnetic storm? No problem. On Jan. 4th, auroras filled the sky over Ringvassøya, Norway. "What a lovely surprise!" says Gunnar Hildonen, who photographed the outburst:
"I was outdoors removing the snow from my driveway when the clouds parted and Lady Aurora put on a crazy beautiful show... out from nowhere," he says. "The solar speed was low, so this was a really big surprise.. ;)"
Indeed, auroras were not in the forecast for Jan. 4th. Solar wind speeds were low, and no geomagnetic activity was expected. What happened? A relatively small crack in Earth's magnetic field opened--and it stayed open for many hours. Slow-moving solar wind percolated through the gap, eventually providing the fuel for a beautiful outburst of auroras. Similar displays were seen in Finland and Iceland.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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THE MAGELLAN VENUS PENDANT: Valentine's Day is less than 43 days away. What better way to say "I Love You" than a Venus pendant from the edge of space? This spherical glass necklace, showing NASA Magellan's radar map of the 2nd planet, traveled 104,242 feet high onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon:
You can have it for $119.95. The students are selling these pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a card showing it floating through the stratosphere, and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space and back again. They make great Valentine's Day, anniversary and birthday gifts.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Spaceweather Photo Gallery
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