SOLAR ACTIVITY IS LOW... For the 10th day in a row, the sun is blank, without sunspots. The sun's X-ray output is flatlining and the chance of a strong flare today is no more than 1%. Welcome back, Solar Minimum. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
...BUT SURPRISES ARE POSSIBLE: On Jan. 8th, the sun was blank and spotless, with no chance of a solar flare. Suddenly, the biggest magnetic filament in years launched itself off the surface of the sun. At first it appeared the debris would miss Earth. But it didn't miss. On Jan. 11th, a shock wave arrived, sparking the brightest auroras of 2021:
"What a surprise!" says aurora tour guide Marianne Bergli of Tromsø, Norway. "I took this picture at 3 o'clock in the morning. I was supposed to be asleep, but how could I sleep at an amazing magical moment like this? I'm so glad I'm free to be outside and do what I love to do."
Once again today the sun is blank and spotless, with no chance of a solar flare. But surprises are possible. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
A FAR-OUT VALENTINE'S GIFT: It came from Tahiti--and now it's been to the edge of space. On Oct. 30, 2020, this genuine Black Tahitian South Sea Cultured Pearl flew to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon, soaring 98,424 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $229.95. The students are selling these exotic space pearls to fund their cosmic ray monitoring program. Measuring 10 mm in diameter, the pearl has an 18K rose gold clasp and is suspended from a matching 925 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 Spaceweather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter