BIG SUNSPOT FACES EARTH: Today, and for the next few days, the largest sunspot of the new solar cycle (AR2781) will be facing Earth. This means any eruptions will be geoeffective, directly targeting our planet. So far, the sunspot has produced only C-class solar flares (see below), but stronger eruptions are possible. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
SOLAR FLARE ACTIVITY: Today began with a bang. On Sunday, Nov. 8th (0518 UT), giant sunspots AR2781 produced a C5-class solar flare, shown here in a photo from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:
Above: A category C5.6 solar flare on Nov. 8, 2020. Credit: SDO
A pulse of X-rays and UV radiation ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a brief shortwave radio blackout over Australia and the Indian Ocean (see the map below). Mariners, aviators, and ham radio operators in the region may have noticed unusual propagation at frequencies below 10 MHz. The entire episode lasted less than 20 minutes.
Stronger eruptions are possible. Sunspot AR2781 has a "beta-gamma" magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class flares, 10 times more intense than a C-flare. NOAA forecasters say there is a 15% chance of such an eruption on Nov. 8th.
Above: A map of the shortwave blackout caused by the Nov. 8th C5-flare.
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PIONEER 10 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT: In 1972, NASA launched a gold-anodized aluminum plaque onboard the Pioneer 10 spacecraft. Its purpose: To tell alien civilizations about Earth. Today the plaque is at the edge of interstellar space. On Oct. 24, 2020, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched their own copy onboard a cosmic ray balloon:
You can have it for $71.95. This ceramic Pioneer 10 plaque traveled 102,362 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, experiencing near-vacuum, cosmic rays, and space-like cold. It's the closest thing on Earth to the actual plaque.
The students are selling these replicas to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a red ribbon for hanging on your Christmas tree. You'll also receive a greeting card showing the ornament in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space and back again.
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