GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING: NOAA forecasters have modeled the trajectory of yesterday's CME and confirmed that it will likely arrive on Oct. 11th. The impact could spark G1 to G2-class geomagnetic storms. If a moderately-strong G2-storm materializes, sky watchers in the United States could see auroras as far south as a line connecting New York to Oregon. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
A 'HALO CME' IS COMING: This could be the first head-on CME strike of young Solar Cycle 25. Yesterday, Oct. 9th, an M1.6-class solar flare in the magnetic canopy of sunspot SR2882 hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. SOHO coronagraphs recorded the storm cloud coming almost straight toward us:
This is called a 'halo CME' because CMEs heading directly for Earth seem to form a 360-degree halo around the sun. CMEs heading directly away from Earth can form a halo, too, but that's another story.
So far this year, dozens of CMEs have missed Earth. Many of them were near misses, provoking no more than minor geomagnetic unrest as they passed by. This time, however, the sun is shooting straight.
A direct hit by this cloud on Oct. 11th could cause a geomagnetic storm. Note to tabloid reporters: This is not the Carrington Event! Likely storm levels will reach only G1 or G2 on a scale that goes all the way up to G5. Satellites and power grids will survive with ease while auroras dance harmlessly in high-latitude skies. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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STERLING SILVER INFINITY PEARL: Nothing says "I love you forever" like the Infinity Pearl. On Jan. 10, 2021, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this unique pendant to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. For more than 2 hours it floated 101,378+ feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $249.95. The students are selling space pearls to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Measuring 9 mm in diameter, the Infinity Pearl is mounted on a sterling silver infinity twist and suspended from a matching 17 inch long sterling silver chain. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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