YET ANOTHER GLANCING-BLOW CME: Another CME is heading for Earth, and it's a little off target. A glancing blow (or near miss) is possible during the late hours of March 23rd, according to NOAA forecasters. This will be the 3rd time in the past week that a CME has almost landed a direct hit. Even a near miss can produce bright Arctic auroras. Best case scenario for auroraphiles: A minor G1-class geomagnetic storm. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
AURORAS LOVE EQUINOXES: A CME passed near Earth yesterday, March 20th. It didn't hit. But at this time of year a near miss is enough, because auroras love equinoxes. Christopher Mathews witnessed a beautiful display from his backyard in Hraunborg, Iceland:
"My expectations last night were pretty minimal," says Mathews. "The hoped-for CME impact was mostly a clean miss. But because it was the equinox (when Northern Lights seem to come out more often), I decided to watch the skies anyway, and I'm glad I did!"
It's true. Auroras really do love spring. Researchers call it the "Russell-McPherron effect." During the weeks around equinoxes, cracks form in Earth's magnetic field, allowing solar wind to enter. Even a weak stream of solar wind or an off-target CME can spark a good display at high latitudes.
Another off-target CME is on the way. ETA: March 23th. Thanks to Russell and McPherron, it doesn't need to land a solid blow for skies to turn spring green. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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STERLING SILVER DOLPHIN PENDANT: On Feb. 28, 2022, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a cosmic ray research balloon. This sterling silver dolphin hitched a ride, flying 111,101 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California:
You can have it for $142.95. Leaping through blue crystal waves, the playful cetacean is 100% 925 sterling silver. It comes with a matching 18-inch sterling silver chain The entire pendant is lead-free, nickel-free, cadmium-free, and totally hypoallergenic.
Each pendant comes with a greeting card showing the dolphin in flight, and telling the story of its trip to the edge of space and back again. All sales support the student's cosmic ray research program.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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