CHANCE OF FLARES TODAY: NOAA forecasters say there is a 40% chance of M-class solar flares today, Jan. 31st, and a 10% chance of X-flares. The likely source would be sunspot AR2936. The behemoth active region is big enough to swallow our planet 5 times over, and it is directly facing Earth, so any flares will be geoeffective. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading for Earth. Estimated time of arrival: Feb. 2nd. This movie from SOHO shows the halo CME leaving the sun:
It was hurled into space during the early hours of Jan. 30th by an M1-class solar flare. Big sunspot AR2936 was the source of the blast. The long duration flare lasted more than 4 hours, so it put plenty of power into the CME.
A newly-released forecast model from NOAA shows the likely timing of impact:
Click here to view the full-resolution model. It shows first contact happening during the early UT hours of Feb. 2nd.
Moderately-strong G2-class geomagnetic storms are possible after the CME arrives. During such storms, auroras can spill out of the Arctic Circle into northern-tier US states from New York to Minnesota to Washington. Power grids and satellites are in no danger, however. This is a low hazard "auroras only" space weather event. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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STERLING SILVER RAINBOW DRAGONFLY: Valentine's Day is only 2 weeks away. Nothing says "I love you" like a rainbow dragonfly from the edge of space. On Jan 28th, this sterling silver pendant hitched a ride onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $172.95. The dragonfly's heart is a Celtic love knot, and its wings are decorated with a spray of rainbow-colored crystals. This item is 100% 925 sterling silver, lead-free, nickel-free, cadmium-free, and totally hypoallergenic.
The students are selling dragonfly pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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