GEOMAGNETIC STORMS THIS WEEKEND: Earth has entered a stream of fast-moving (600 km/s) solar wind, which could buffet our planet's magnetosphere for the next three days. The gaseous material is flowing from a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere. According to NOAA, periods of G1-class geomagnetic storming are likely on March 20th, 21st and 22nd. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
AURORAS IN THE USA: Exceeding expectations, a brief but strong G2-class geomagnetic storm erupted during the early hours of March 20th. Bright auroras illuminated skies over Canada then spilled across the border into the USA. Marybeth Kiczenski sends this picture from Grand Portage, Minnesota:
"What an incredible display this morning," says Kiczenski . "This was the first time I've ever seen auroras almost directly overhead. It was absolutely amazing. WOW. JUST WOW."
It's no coincidence that this happened on the first day of northern spring. Auroras love equinoxes. Around the beginning of spring and fall, cracks open in Earth's magnetic field--a phenomenon called "the Russell-McPherron effect." Solar wind pours in to fuel geomagnetic storms.
An unusually large crack opened this morning. For specialists: BsubZ tipped south all the way to -18 nT. See the data. The resulting G2-class storm was more intense than the G1-storm forecasters anticipated.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
MEANWHILE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: As today's geomagnetic storm reached its peak, a plane-load of fliers from New Zealand watched the show from 35,000 feet. "Thanks to the amazing job New Zealand has done protecting its population from COVID-19, 275 people were able to board an Air New Zealand Dreamliner and fly toward the aurora australis," reports Ian Griffin, who took this picture from his window seat:
"Thanks to the Russell-McPherron effect, and the Southern Hemisphere autumnal equinox occurring during the flight, we saw astounding auroras for more than 6 hours of the 10 hour flight," says Griffin. "We were not disappointed!"
This was the first of two back-to-back charter flights to witness the equinox auroras. "Best of all," says Griffin, "we do it all again tonight!"
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
STERLING SILVER HUMMINGBIRD: This hummingbird has touched space. The sterling silver pendant hitched a ride to the stratosphere on Jan. 15, 2021, when the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a cosmic ray balloon. Here it is, floating 111,202 feet above the snow-capped Sierra Nevada of central California:
You can have it for $133.95. The students are selling hummingbird pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the hummingbird in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. It makes an out-of-this-world birthday, anniversary, or Mother's Day gift!
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter