THE CME HAS ARRIVED: A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field on Feb. 1st at 22:21 UT, a few hours earlier than predicted. First-look data from NOAA's DSCOVR spacecraft suggest that conditions are favorable for a G1-class geomagnetic storm, but maybe not the stronger G2-class storm originally predicted. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras after local nightfall. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
SPIRALING ROCKET EXHAUST: Last night, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, propelling Italy's CosmoSkyMed satellite into low Earth orbit. Shortly after the satellite was released from the rocket's upper stage, this happened:
"My meteor camera picked up this luminous spiral in the sky," reports Dan Bush of Albany, Missouri. "SpaceX has once again entertained those of us here in the Midwest."
The spiral was propellant dumped from the rocket's tumbling upper stage. About 15 minutes later the emptied rocket booster splashed down in the south Pacific Ocean. More images: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6.
FARSIDE SUNSPOT: Using a technique called "helioseismology," it is possible for NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) to map the farside of the sun. New farside maps show a potentially significant sunspot group (circled):
The sprawling active region has a strong magnetic field (strong enough to detect through the body of the sun) and it is located 2 to 4 days behind the sun's northeastern limb. Whatever it is will rotate into view later this week. Stay tuned. Solar flare 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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