WEAK CME IMPACT EXPECTED: Later today or (more likely) tomorrow, a CME will probably hit Earth's magnetic field. It's not a big CME. It's a little one. But the impact could be enough to spark minor geomagnetic storms and auroras at high latitudes on Aug. 27th. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
SUNSPOT GENESIS: Three days ago, sunspot AR2860 didn't exist. Now it's an archipelago of magnetism 70,000 km long bookended by two planet-sized dark cores. This 48-hour movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows sunspot genesis in action:
Although the sunspot is rapidly growing, it is not yet a source of strong flares--and may never be. The rapid separation of the sunspot's primary cores (that is, its magnetic poles) is limiting the mixture of +/- magnetism required for a good explosion. But as the movie shows, things can change rapidly on the sun, so stay tuned. Instant solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
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AURORAS OVER YELLOWKNIFE: It was just before midnight on Aug. 25th when a crack opened in Earth's magnetic field. Solar wind poured through the gap, fueling auroras over Yellowknife, Canada:
"One day past the full moon, in a virtually cloudless sky and warm 8 Celsius air, a gentle, long-lasting display opened up over Yellowknife starting at 11 pm," says photographer Bill Braden. "It illuminated a neighbourhood in the Old Town, on the north shore of Great Slave Lake."
Displays like this are about to become commonplace. As summer comes to an end, northern skies are darkening, providing a velvety-black backdrop for the aurora borealis. Even without any geomagnetic storms, we have received reports this week of auroras over Oulu, Finland; Tromso, Norway; Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories of Canada. A glancing-blow CME impact on Aug. 27th might result in many new submissions.
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THIS MOONSTONE HAS TOUCHED SPACE: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Nothing says "I love you" like a moonstone from the edge of space. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew this one wrapped in a hand-crafted sterling silver Celtic love knot 35.1 km (115,158 feet) above Earth's surface:
You can have it for $179.95. The students are selling these pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space. All sales support the Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray ballooning program and hands-on STEM research.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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