CHANCE OF MINOR STORMS TODAY: NOAA forecasters say there is a slight chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms today, July 13th, when Earth enters a fast moving stream of solar wind. The gaseous material is flowing from an equatorial hole in the sun's atmosphere. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
COSMIC RAY UPDATE: New data from cosmic ray balloons show that Solar Cycle 25 is having an effect on Earth's atmosphere. Radiation levels in the air above our heads is decreasing as the new solar cycle gains strength. Spaceweather.com and the students of Earth to Sky Calculus have been monitoring the situation for more than 6 years, and here are the latest data:
The plot shows cosmic rays in the stratosphere, measured by radiation sensors we launch almost once a week from the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Recent flights confirm that radiation levels are decreasing for the first time since 2015.
Cosmic rays come from deep space--mostly from supernova explosions. To reach the inner solar system, they have to fight their way through the sun's protective magnetic field. Once cosmic rays reach Earth, they crash into the top of our atmosphere, creating a spray of secondary radiation, which we measure using high-altitude balloons.
Atmospheric radiation shot up in 2015-2019 because then-Solar Cycle 24 was decaying. The sun's magnetic field became weak and uncomplicated; cosmic rays from deep space found it easier to reach us. Our highest measurements in late 2019 correspond with NOAA's official date of Solar Minimum. Now the sun is waking up again. New Solar Cycle 25 is strengthening the sun's magnetic shield, and atmospheric radiation is dropping.
Above: In search of data, Earth to Sky student Joey Harvey hikes through the Saline Range in Death Valley National Park.
Every time we launch a balloon we have to recover the payload to get the results--often from rugged mountain peaks and remote deserts. There's a little blood, sweat and/or tears in each data point. For many of us, this is the best part of the program. Our adventures have resulted in an uninterrupted record of in situ atmospheric radiation measurements now straddling two solar cycles.
More information and some technical details may be found here.
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LIMITED EDITION MIRROR KIRK: In 1967, a transporter accident sent James T. Kirk into a parallel universe, swapping the captain of the Enterprise with his evil twin. We just found him ... in the stratosphere. Here is "Mirror Kirk" floating 95,254 feet high onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have him for $170.10 (the serial number of the Enterprise divided by 10). Inspired by the classic "Mirror, Mirror" episode of Star Trek first broadcast on Oct. 6, 1967, this 8" statue is made of high-quality polystone resin and expertly painted. It comes with a greeting card showing Kirk in flight and a certificate of authenticity.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, only 1000 limited edition Mirror Kirk statues were manufactured and sold at sci-fi conventions in 2016. We've collected a few of these rarities to fly to the stratosphere. Get yours now.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
IT'S MILKY WAY SEASON: Northern summer is Milky Way season, a time when the spine of our galaxy soars overhead after sunset. To see it, you have to have dark skies. On June 30th, Juan Carlos Casado went to one of the finest dark-sky sites in the world (the Teide Observatory atop Tenerife in the Canary Islands) and this is what he saw:
"Using a fisheye lens, I took 22 pictures and wrapped them into this 'mini-planet' presentation," says Casado. "The entire arc of the Milky Way was visible."
Casado's mini-planet is wrapped in a diaphanous bubble of green light. This is airglow--an aurora-like phenenomenon caused by chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere. Faint airglow is best photographed from extremely dark sites on nights when the Moon is new or below the horizon. It often shows up in long exposures of the Milky Way.
That means it's airglow season, too. Mid-July through August are always the best time of year to see the Milky Way in the evening, and on really dark nights airglow can make an appearance as well. Submit your photos here!
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