GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A CME is heading for Earth. The storm cloud left the sun on Dec. 20th (1136 UT), propelled by an M1.9-class solar flare in the magnetic canopy of sunspot AR2908. NOAA forecasters expect a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Dec. 23rd, possibly sparking a G1-class geomagnetic storm. Christmas Lights, anyone? Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
COMET LEONARD OUTBURST: Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1) is bright again. On Dec. 20th, astronomers witnessed an outburst from the comet's core. In a matter of hours, it multiplied in brightness almost 10-fold. "Tonight it was clearly visible as a 'star' to the left of Venus," reports Jan Hattenbach, who sends this picture from La Palma in the Canary Islands:
"I estimate magnitude 3 or brighter," he says.
The outburst might signal a fragmentation event in the comet's core. This would come as no surprise. The comet is heading for its closest approach to the sun (0.61 AU) on Jan. 3rd. Increasing heat may be liberating new jets of gas and dust from the comet's core--or worse, blowing away huge chunks of ice and rock.
Astronomers in the southern hemisphere have the best view. "The comet is now nicely placed for us in Australia," says Ray Pickard at the Bathurst Observatory in New South Wales. Here is what he saw through the observatory's telescope:
"The comet seems to be having an outburst with a noticeable jet of material [emerging from the core]," he says.
Amateur astronomers are encouraged to monitor Comet Leonard while the outburst continues. If it's a big breakup, the comet might disintegrate and fizzle. Otherwise, it could brighten even more as the comet approaches the sun. To find Leonard in the sunset sky, go to Venus and turn left--or point your optics here.
Realtime Comet Leonard Photo Gallery
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EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARE: Directly facing Earth, sunspot AR2908 produced an M1.9-class solar flare on Dec. 20th (1136 UT). A pulse of X-rays ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a minor shortwave radio blackout over the south Atlantic Ocean: map. "I received an alarm about the solar flare," says Pepe Manteca of Barcelona, Spain. "So I was able to quickly mount my Lunt 152 and here are the images."
Francois Rouviere of Cannes, France, also caught the sunspot in mid-flare. Amateur astronomers with solar filters should remained prepared, because more flares are in the offing. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
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Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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