REVISED STORM FORECAST: NOAA forecasters have downgraded their estimate of peak geomagnetic activity today from category G2 to G1. This means auroras will probably be confined to Arctic latitudes. G1-class storms are possible on both Sept. 28th and 29th as Earth continues to move through a broad stream of solar wind flowing from a northern hole in the sun's atmosphere. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
AURORAS AT DAWN: Some people dread Mondays. Not photographer Todd Salat. "This Monday near the crack of dawn, BIG auroras appeared near Salcha, Alaska," reports Salat. "I was awestruck, standing near the edge of the lake with the lights reflecting from the waters at my feet."
Salat witnessed the afterglow of a G2-class geomagnetic storm, which erupted on Sunday night, Sept. 27th, when a stream of solar wind hit Earth's magnetic field. The impact propelled auroras all the way into Monday--a nice way to begin the week.
Similar displays were seen in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Canada. Browse the aurora gallery for the latest sightings.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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THE PINK AURORA PEARL: Inspired by the color of rare pink auroras, Spaceweather.com and the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a pink pearl to the stratosphere on Sept. 25th. It hitched a ride onboard the students' cosmic ray balloon, and reached an altitude 112,205 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $249.95. The students are selling space pearls to support their cosmic ray monitoring program. Measuring 9 mm in diameter, the Aurora 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
Realtime Mars Photo Gallery
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Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
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