MINOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A CME is approaching Earth for a close encounter on Sept. 17th. It will either miss or deliver a glancing blow. Both outcomes are equally possible given uncertainties in the CME's trajectory. A hit could spark minor G1-class geomagnetic storms and high-latitude auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
ROCKET NEBULA: Last night, SpaceX launched 4 civilians to Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida. "It was spectacular," reports Bill Williams of Titusville. "Shooting from the west side of the Indian River, I recorded exhaust plumes and a dramatic 'rocket nebula' in the moonlit dusk skies."
"I would rather have been on the rocket," says Williams, "but the view from Earth wasn't bad either!"
This mission, named "Inspiration4," is setting a number of milestones. It's the first orbital spaceflight with only private citizens onboard; all 4 received astronaut training from SpaceX, including orbital mechanics, microgravity exercises and mission simulations. It's also the first charity spaceflight. One of the seats was raffled off, raising $200 million for childhood cancer research at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. And the crew are orbiting higher than any astronauts since STS-125 in 2009.
If all goes as planned, the crew capsule will be in Earth orbit until Sept. 19th. One end of the spacecraft has a bubble-shaped window, giving the space travelers an unparalled view of Earth. You can see them, too. The capsule is about as bright as a 3rd magnitude star, easy to spot from rural areas. Check Heavens Above for flyby predictions.
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STEVE IS IN THE AIR: Northern autumn is less than a week away. That means it's time to be alert for STEVE. Last night, Markus Varik caught the purple ribbon over Tromsø, Norway:
"We were having a terrific evening watching green auroras dance across the sky," says Varik. "Suddenly a subtle band appeared, and I began to suspect there might be more to the display than regular auroras. I was right! In no time the purple ribbon became very bright in my camera."
STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) looks like an aurora, but it is not. The phenomenon is caused by hot (3000°C) ribbons of gas flowing through Earth’s magnetosphere at speeds exceeding 6 km/s (13,000 mph). These ribbons appear during some geomagnetic storms, revealing themselves by their soft purple glow.
Studies show that STEVE tends to occur more frequently during spring and fall than summer and winter. The onset of northern autumn seems to lure the arc out of summer hiding. Got a picture of STEVE? Submit it here.
Realtime STEVE Photo Gallery
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STAR TREK WINE STOPPER: It's the most far-out wine stopper ever! On Sept. 9, 2021, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched the USS Enterprise to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. Here is the starship-shaped stopper floating 105,563 feet above the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $99.95. The students are selling these must-have bar accessories to support their cosmic ray research program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the stopper in flight, telling the story of its trip to the edge of space and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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