DOGS CAN SENSE MAGNETIC FIELDS: Add dogs to the list of lifeforms that can use magnetic fields to navigate. New research summarized in today's issue of Science magazine shows that at least some hunting dogs take shortcuts along N-S magnetic field lines--a strategy that helps them navigate unfamiliar terrain. This means dogs may be sensitive to the disturbing effects of space weather. FULL STORY.
COMET NEOWISE UPDATE: We have some good news and some bad news. Bad news first: Comet NEOWISE is beginning to dim. Since it flew by the sun in early July, the comet's brightness has dropped by about 2 magnitudes. Good news: The comet's tail is still visible to the naked eye, and a short exposure with an off-the-shelf camera is sufficient to reveal NEOWISE's magnificence. To wit, this picture taken last night by Jeff Dai from Ankang, China:
"The magnitude of the comet may have gone down, but the tail is still visible to the naked eye, around 5 to 7 degrees of it," says Dai. "The comet is even friendlier to the camera. It appears at sunset and each night it is climbing higher into darker skies. I was lucky to capture the comet and a satellite flash together."
The comet is now moving toward Ursa Major, the constellation of the Bear. This means observers can use the stars of the Big Dipper to find the comet. The week ahead should be a good one for even casual photographers of the night sky. Sky maps: July 18, 19, 20.
Realtime Comet NEOWISE Photo Gallery
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ARCTIC WOLF PENDANT: This wolf glows in the dark--and it's been to space. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this special pendant to the stratosphere on April 15, 2020, on board a high-altitude cosmic ray balloon. The payload of radiation sensors (and lupine jewelry) traveled 107,611 feet above Earth's surface:
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 wolf in flight and describing its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Noctilucent Cloud Photo Gallery
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