GEOMAGNETIC FORECAST (UPDATED): Geomagnetic unrest is possible on Jan. 22-23-24 as a series of CMEs delivers glancing blows to Earth's magnetic field. Two of the CMEs were hurled into space by M-class flares from departing sunspot AR2929; a third CME just left sunspot AR2933. None of the storm clouds will land a direct hit, but their combined effect could spark minor G1-class geomagnetic storms. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
BIG SOLAR FLARE (UPDATED): Sunspot AR2929 erupted again on Jan. 20th (0601 UT), producing a powerful M5.5-class solar flare. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the extreme ultraviolet flash:
During the flare, a pulse of X-rays ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a shortwave radio blackout around the Indian Ocean: blackout map. Aviators, mariners, and ham radio operators in the area may have noticed unusual propagation effects at frequencies below 30 MHz.
Newly arriving images from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) confirm that the explosion also produced a CME. Here it is:
The emerging cloud is just outside the Earth "strike zone." It is expected to miss our planet, although a glancing blow on Jan. 23-24 has not yet been ruled out.
Of greater interest is the radiation storm. The flare accelerated a blizzard of energetic particles toward Earth. Note the "snow" (flickering speckles) in the SOHO coronagraph movie:
These are high-energy protons striking SOHO's digital camera. The same particles also peppered Earth. The blizzard of particles is what we call a "radiation storm."
The radiation storm was relatively minor. No satellites were harmed. However, many of the particles were funneled into Earth's polar regions by our planet's magnetic field, causing a sustained shortwave radio blackout around the Arctic and (especially) the Antarctic circles. To see the areas affected, check out this NOAA blackout map. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
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A DALEK FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: It's the ultimate Valentine's gift for a Dr. Who fan: A Dalek from the edge of space. On Jan. 16, 2022, this Funko Pop! original hitched a ride to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $134.95. The Dalek comes with a greeting card showing the evil cyborg in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space and back again. Also included is the original Funko Pop! box, making this a genuine collector's item.
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