UNEXPECTED GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A minor G1-class geomagnetic storm occured during the early hours of April 15th when a crack opened in Earth's magnetic field. Solar wind rushed through the gap to fuel the disturbance. Conditions are quiet again now. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
SOUTHERN SUNSPOT ACTIVITY: The sun's southern hemisphere is showing signs of life. Three sunspots are growing there. Their dark cores are inset in this surface magnetogram from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:
The +/- magnetic polarity of all three spots marks them as members of new Solar Cycle 25. The young solar cycle has been struggling to produce sunspots, so three at once is a notable uptick in activity. If their growth continues apace, the two new sunspots will likely receive official designations AR2815 and AR2816 tomorrow.
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LUNAR OCCULTATION OF MARS: Mars is about to vanish behind the mountains of the Moon. On April 17th, the crescent Moon will pass in front of the Red Planet, hiding Mars for as much as an hour. Spaceweather.com reader Peter Zimnikoval created this visibility map:
The occultation occurs at night across much of southeast Asia. It is a twilight event in India--possibly visible in backyard telescopes--and a broad daylight washout in the Middle East and Africa.
"The next occultation of Mars will be visible from only a small part of Mongolia and Russia on December 3rd of this year," says Zimnikoval. So we don't want to miss this one. Astronomers in the zone of visibility, if you photograph the occultation, please submit your images here.
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YES, YOUR MOM LOVES SPACE: Are you looking for an out-of-this world Mother's Day gift? Consider this: Every time the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launch a cosmic ray balloon, they include something extra in the payload--something Mom will love:
Every item in the Earth to Sky Store has flown to the edge of space and comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight. The interior of the card tells the story of the gift's journey from launch to landing. Mom-satisfaction guaranteed!
Mother's Day Special: Use coupon code "SPACEMOM" at checkout for a 10% discount. Offer valid from now until Mother's Day (May 9, 2021) .
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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