SOLAR WIND UPDATE: Earth is exiting a solar wind stream that sparked bright high-latitude auroras during the first week of March. Another stream is on the way. Flowing from a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere, the gaseous material is expected to reach Earth on March 13th. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
NEW SUNSPOT CRACKLING WITH FLARES: A new sunspot emerging over the sun's northeastern limb produced a C1-class solar flare today, March 9th. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the extreme ultraviolet flash:
A pulse of radiation from the flare briefly ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a low-frequency radio brownout over the Atlantic Ocean. Here is a map of the areas affected. Mariners and ham radio operators might have noticed unusual propagation below 10 MHz around 1235 UT.
C-flares are relatively minor events. The potential of this sunspot for more intense flares is unknown. We'll find out more as it rotates into better view later today. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
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APOLLO 11 PROOF SILVER DOLLAR (COLLECTOR'S ITEM): The US Mint has created a special silver dollar to celebrate the first Moon landing. However, you can no longer buy Apollo 11 coins from the Mint. Where can you get one? From the edge of space:
This rare collectable coin flew to the stratosphere on July 20, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. It hitched a ride onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon. The students are selling the coin to fund their research: Buy it now.
The silver dollar is curved and reproduces the helmet of astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Reflected in Buzz's visor are Neil Armstrong, the United States flag, and the lunar lander. The opposite side of the coin shows Neil's iconic footprint on the Moon. Included is a greeting card showing the coin in flight and a certificate of authenticity.
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