THE SOLAR MINIMUM SUPERSTORM OF 1903: Don't let Solar Minimum fool you. Superstorms are possible even during the "quiet" phase of the solar cycle. A new study just published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters looks back to October 1903. Solar activity was at a low point, eerily similar to now, when one of the biggest storms in modern history erupted. FULL STORY.
ANOTHER SOLAR CYCLE 25 SUNSPOT: A new sunspot is emerging near the sun's northeastern limb. Tentatively numbered AR2769, the fast-growing 'spot is inset in this magnetic map of the sun's surface from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:
The sunspot's magnetic polarity (-/+) marks it as a member of Solar Cycle 25. This is 12th time this year that a sunspot from the new cycle has appeared, a clear sign that Solar Cycle 25 is coming to life.
AR2769 is crackling with minor B-class solar flares. This activity could intensify as the sunspot continues to grow. Stay tuned.
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JUPITER-SATURN-MOON CONJUNCTION: After the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look south. Jupiter, Saturn and the almost-full Moon are in conjunction, forming a bright triangle in the constellation Sagittarius:
This conjunction kicks off an even bigger event, the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. For the next 5 months, the two giant planets will slowly converge, drawing closer each night. On Dec. 21, 2020 (the night of closest approach) Jupiter and Saturn will be just 1/10th of a degree apart, a spectacular meeting that only happens once every 20 years.
Start watching tonight.
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A STORM TROOPER IN THE STRATOSPHERE: It's the ultimate gift for a Star Wars fan--a Storm Trooper bobblehead from the edge of space. On July 23rd, this minion of the Emperor hitched a ride to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon. Here he is floating 117,454 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of California:
You can have him for $109.95. The students of Earth to Sky are selling Storm Troopers to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each bobblehead 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.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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