PERSEID METEOR UPDATE: The 2021 Perseid meteor shower was good, but not great. When the shower peaked on Aug. 12-13, international observers counted 60 to 70 Perseids per hour--about half of the expected maximum. Even so reduced, it was still the best meteor shower of the year. Highlights may be found in the Perseid photo gallery.
HUGE SOLAR PROMINENCE: Around the world, astronomers are monitoring a huge prominence on the sun's northeastern limb. Clayton Hare sends this picture from Newfoundland, Canada:
"The prominence was very active," says Hare. "It seemed to be streaming downwards ... not toward the sun actually ... but drifting away like tendrils of smoke from a fire."
Solar prominences are clouds of hydrogen gas held up by magnetic fields. This one is 10 times taller than Earth and at least 25 times as wide. The dynamics observed by Hare suggest instability. The next photo of this huge structure, whoever takes it, might capture an explosion. Solar Flare alerts: SMS Text.
SPACE STATION TRANSIT DURING A HEAT WAVE: Two days ago, the International Space Station (ISS) flew across the sun over Utah. This happens all the time--except this time the ISS did not fly in a straight line. "Did the astronauts steering it break into the vodka reserves?" wondered Bob Beal, who photographed the wobbly transit from Razor Ridge Park:
"No," he answers. "The waviness of its path crossing the Sun was due to the air shimmering in the desert August heat at 102° F and the constant strong outflow winds from surrounding thunderstorms buffeting the scope broadside." Beal made a gif animation to show how it looked through the telescope.
Vodka reserves: Intact. Meanwhile the heatwave continues.
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"DAMMIT JIM, I'M A DOCTOR NOT A COFFEE CUP": There's nothing like morning coffee in a cup from space. On June 25, 2021, this rare ceramic Dr. McCoy mug flew to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon. At the apex of the flight, it floated 95,254 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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