SOLAR SECTOR BOUUNDARY CROSSING: Earth is about to cross a fold in the heliospheric current sheet--a vast wavy structure in interplanetary space separating regions of opposite magnetic polarity. The crossing, called a "solar sector boundary crossing," is expected on June 30th and could trigger minor geomagnetic activity around Earth's poles. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
CORONAL MASS EJECTION: Yesterday we issued an "all quiet alert." Almost immediately, something exploded. During the early hours of June 27th, a magnetic filament snapped near the sun's western limb, hurling part of itself into space. Coronagraphs onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded the resulting CME:
This CME is not heading for Earth. The blast site was on the sun's western limb, and maybe even a little behind it, putting the cloud well outside the Earth strike zone. Nevertheless, NOAA analysts are evaluating the possibility of a glancing blow from the CME's flank. If there is an Earth-directed component, it would probably arrive in 3 or 4 days. Stay tuned. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS, ALL NIGHT LONG: Last night in northern Scotland, it didn't get dark. The sky was filled with glowing noctilucent clouds (NLCs). "They were visible all night long," reports Alan C. Tough, who sends this picture from the town of Elgin:
"It was a fantastic display, at times covering more than half the sky," he says.
NLCs are Earth's highest clouds. They form when summertime wisps of water vapor rise to the edge of space (~83 km high) and crystalize around disintegrated meteoroids. When you see one, you're literally seeing a cloud of frosted meteor smoke.
2021 is shaping up to be one of the best years ever for NLCs. The clouds have broken free of the Arctic Circle, spreading as far south as Spain and Portugal. Late June and July are usually when NLCs are most widespread, which means now is the time to look.
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RARE SCOTTY MUG (COLLECTOR'S ITEM): There's nothing like morning coffee in a cup from space. On June 3, 2021, this rare ceramic Montgomery Scott mug flew to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon. At the apex of the flight, it floated 101,243 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $170.10. That's the serial number of the Enterprise divided by 10. The students are selling Star Trek mugs to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one holds 16 oz. of steaming hot Raktajino (Klingon coffee) and comes with a greeting card showing the collector's item in flight.
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