FARSIDE SOLAR ACTIVITY: The sun is blank--no sunspots. Or is it? NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft, which can see part of the sun's farside, has detected two high-latitude sunspots over the sun's eastern horizon. These are likely members of new Solar Cycle 25. Later this week the pair will rotate into view from Earth. Stay tuned. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
COMET SWAN HEADS NORTH: Today, Comet SWAN (C/2020 F8) is crossing the celestial equator, heading north. "The time has come to hand over the torch to Northern Hemisphere observers," says Stephen James O'Meara, who has been monitoring the comet from Botswana since it was discovered last month. "This morning, SWAN rose above the trees in our garden (we are in lockdown in Botswana and not allowed to venture out) 10 minutes after the start of astronomical twilight."
"I estimated the comet's brightness to be 6.0 with a 1/2˚ tail (much dust now) in 8 x 42 binoculars (again in that twilight zone)," says O'Meara. "I do hope dust production kicks up as this elegant 'swan' sails sunward and that you have a good show up north."
This week, observers in the southern USA could get their first glimpse of the comet very low in the eastern sky during morning twilight. It is in the constellation Pisces. Right now, Comet SWAN is barely visible to the unaided eye. However, it is heading toward the sun (close approach: May 27th) and could experience another naked-eye outburst. Fingers crossed!
Detailed sky maps are available from Sky&Telescope. Amateur astronomers with GOTO telescopes can use this ephemeris tool to point their optics.
Realtime Comet SWAN Photo Gallery
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CRYSTAL MOON BALL IN THE STRATOSPHERE: On Star Wars Day ("May the 4th be with you"), the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched an array of cosmic ray sensors to the stratosphere. They do this every week or so to monitor increasing levels of atmospheric radiation. This crystal Moon ball went along for the ride:
You can have it for $129.95. The students are selling these far-out balls to support their cosmic ray ballooning program.
Each one comes with an LED base that turns the laser-etched crystaline Moon a beautiful shade of purple, blue, green or yellow. It makes a great night light. Also included is a greeting card showing the crystal ball 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
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
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