COMET ATLAS IS BREAKING UP: This could be the beginning of the end. Once-promising Comet ATLAS (C/2019 Y4) appears to be falling apart as it plunges toward the sun. Newly-released images from the NEXT telescope in China suggest that a "major disruption" of the comet's core is underway. Full Story.

A HOLE IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE: Arctic aurora season might end with one last gust of solar wind. The gaseous material is flowing from a hole in the sun's atmosphere, now facing Earth. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory imaged the magnetic canyon on April 7th:

This is a "coronal hole"--a place where the sun's magnetic field peels back and allows solar wind to escape. Gas emerging from the gap at ~500 km/s should reach Earth on April 10th or 11th, possibly sparking auroras visible through the growing twilight of Arctic spring. Stay tuned!

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A MOTHER'S DAY GIFT FROM THE STRATOSPHERE: Tell Mom how much you love her -- to the Moon and Back! On March 5th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched an array of cosmic ray sensors to the edge of space onboard a helium balloon. This Mother's Day pendant went along for the ride:

The silvery crescent declares "I love you to the Moon and Back" and surrounds a 14K gold plated heart labeled "Mom."

You can have it for $99.95. The students are selling these pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. Sales support the Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray ballooning program and hands-on STEM research.

Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education

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