NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS ARE INTENSIFYING: The first noctilucent clouds (NLCs) of northern summer have arrived--and they're better than expected. NASA's AIM spacecraft is monitoring a huge blue cloud pinwheeling around the North Pole, while sky watchers in northern Europe are reporting electric-blue tendrils in the night sky. FULL STORY.
SOMETHING FLARE-Y THIS WAY COMES: For the past two days, Earth orbiting satellites have detected a series of B-class solar flares. The source is hiding just behind the sun's northeastern limb:
The flares are probably coming from a sunspot. We can't see the hidden sunspot, but we can see its magnetic canopy towering over the edge of the sun. In 24 to 48 hours, the underlying blast site will rotate into view. Whatever it is, its high latitude suggests it comes from new Solar Cycle 25.
B-class solar flares are considered to be minor. Only during a deep Solar Minimum such as the one underway now would such flares be newsworthy. At the nadir of the solar cycle, many months can go by with no flares at all. Suddenly, B-flares are interesting. More could be in the offing, so stay tuned. Aurora alerts: SMS Texts.
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THE INFINITY BLACK PEARL: It came from Tahiti--and now it's been to the edge of space. On April 15, 2020, this genuine Black Tahitian South Sea Cultured Pearl flew to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon, soaring 107,611 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $249.95. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling these exotic space pearls to fund their cosmic ray monitoring program.
Measuring 9 mm in diameter, the pearl is mounted on a 925 sterling silver infinity twist and suspended on a matching 17 inch long sterling silver chain. Each pearl comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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