THE NEXT SOLAR WIND STREAM: Earth is exiting one solar wind stream. Another is on the way. Flowing from a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere, the gaseous material is due to arrive on Nov 21-22. NOAA forecasters say that a corotating interaction region (CIR) traveling just ahead of the stream could spark geomagnetic activity and Arctic auroras on Nov. 20th. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
LUNAR ECLIPSE: Last night, the full Moon spent 3 1/2 hours dipped in Earth's sunset-red shadow. Morris Yoder photographed the lunar eclipse from Montezuma, Georgia:
"A foggy mist gave the eclipse an ethereal glow!" says Yoder.
Technically, this was only a partial eclipse. At maximum coverage (97%), a 0.8 arcminute slice of the Moon hung outside of Earth's shadow. That's why a crescent-shaped swath of Moon just above Tycho crater looks so bright in Yoder's photo; it was uneclipsed.
The uneclipsed crescent was the highlight for Guillermo Abramson as he watched the event in morning twilight from Bariloche, Argentina:
"During the final stages with the Moon about to set behind the Andes and the sky so clear, it was phantasmagoric," says Abramson.
Partial? Phantasmagoric. Totally beautiful. Browse the gallery for more photos.
Got a picture of the eclipse? Submit it here
Realtime Eclipse Photo Gallery
GIFTS FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: Christmas is coming. Are you looking for a far-out gift? Check out the Earth to Sky Store. It's filled with unique items that have flown to the edge of space onboard cosmic ray research balloons.
Carried aloft by giant helium balloons, these unique gifts have flown above 99.7% of Earth's atmosphere, experiencing space-like blasts of cosmic rays, extreme cold, and a wild ride parachuting back to Earth after the balloon explodes. Even Amazon doesn't carry items this far out.
Don't forget to enter coupon code "SPACESANTA" at checkout for a 10% holiday discount.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter