MARS HELICOPTER LIFTS OFF: It's a real milestone in space exploration. Today, NASA flew a helicopter on another planet. Almost 180 million miles away on Mars, Ingenuity rose into the thin air, photographed its shadow on the red soil below, and touched down again. The 39 second flight heralds an era of airborne travel on Mars that could leave conventional rovers in the dust. [full story]
AURORAS AT THE SOUTH POLE: A solar wind storm is in progress on April 19th, with plasma from the sun blowing around Earth faster than 600 km/s. At the South Pole, auroras are dancing across the winter-dark sky. Here is the view from a live camera at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station:
Researchers once thought that Southern Lights were exact counterparts of Northern Lights on the opposite side of Earth. Indeed, the physics is the same. Energetic particles rain down from space, causing the atmosphere to glow green, purple, and pink. Simultaneous observations of Earth's poles from space, however, show that auroras dance differently at the two ends of our planet--an assymetry that researchers are only beginning to understand.
The upshot: Southern Lights may be present even when Northern Lights are not. Monitor the Amundsen-Scott camera for updates.
Thanks to Spaceweather.com reader Merv Miller of Camanche, Iowa, for pointing out today's South Polar display! Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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MAGNETIC VIBRATIONS IN ENGLAND: What happens when a stream of solar wind strikes Earth's magnetic field? Stuart Green's backyard magnetometer in Preston UK provides the answer:
"Our magnetic field here in England has been very unsettled since the arrival of a solar wind stream on April 16th," says Green. Each gust of wind in space moved the needle of Green's magnetic sensor, tracing "a G1-class geomagnetic storm overnight between 16th/17th (here in Europe) and transitioning into a period of geomagnetic unrest into the night of the 17th," he says.
You'll never guess where Green keeps his magnetometer. "It is buried in my garden about 0.5 meters below the surface," says Green. "This protects it from interference and allows very sensitive measurements of magnetic declination during geomagnetic storms. The plot shows the change in magnetic flux density in nanotesla occurring between readings every few minutes."
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MOTHER'S DAY IS MAY 9TH: 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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