NEW SUNSPOT PRODUCES SOLAR FLARE: A new sunspot emerging over the sun's northeastern limb exploded today, March 22d @ 1242 UT, producing a C7-class solar flare: movie. X-rays ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere which, in turn, caused a brief shortwave radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean. Frequencies affected were mostly below 15 MHz. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
FARSIDE SOLAR ACTIVITY: Yesterday something exploded on the far side of the sun. Coronagraphs onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded a massive CME emerging from behind the sun's southeastern limb:
A few hours later, it happened again. If Earth had been in the line of fire, we would now be anticipating a strong geomagnetic storm.
Although these explosions were not Earth directed, they nevertheless managed to touch our planet. Shortly after the first CME emerged, NOAA's GOES-17 satellite detected a surge of energetic protons:
The particles were accelerated to almost light speed by shock waves in the leading edge of the CME. Then, they were guided toward Earth by spiraling magnetic fields which connect the western limb of the sun to our planet. This is called the Parker spiral, after legendary physicist Eugene Parker, who passed away just last week.
Energetic protons can ionize the top of Earth's atmosphere and dose astronauts with potentially harmful radiation. This surge, however, was mostly harmless. It did not quite reach storm levels--another thing that would have been different had the blast site been on the Earthside of the sun. Solar flare 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.
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