GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on Feb 20th when a a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. CIRs are transition zones between slow- and fast-moving solar wind streams. Solar wind plasma piles up in these regions, producing shock-like structures that can spark bright auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
TWO DOOMED COMETS: It's not unusual for one comet to fall into the sun. On Feb. 16th, two comets did it. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded thier death dive:
Traveling in tandem, the two comets disintegrated as they approached the sun. The smaller one vaporized first, and the larger penetrated a bit deeper before it disappeared. Watch the full resolution movie for a better view.
These are Kreutz sungrazers--fragments from the breakup of a single giant comet many centuries ago. They get their name from 19th century German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz, who studied them in detail. Kreutz fragments pass by the sun almost every day. Most, measuring less than a few meters across, are too small to see, but occasionally bigger fragments like these show up in SOHO coronagraphs.
Sungrazing comet expert Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab in Washington DC speculates that these two ice balls may have been a single fragment as recently as months ago. Solar heating split them apart and, ultimately, obliterated them completely.
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A DRAGONFLY IN THE STRATOSPHERE: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the Sterling Silver Space Dragonfly. On Jan 12th, this winged pendant flew 113,451 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, hitching a ride onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon:
You can have it for $172.95. The dragonfly's heart is a Celtic love knot, and its wings are decorated with blue marquise crystals--all plated with 14k white gold. It's an exquisite ensemble for birthdays, anniversaries or any other romantic occasion.
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.
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