GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G1-CLASS): Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on April 6th and 7th when at least one CME is expected to graze Earth's magnetic field. There might even be two strikes. A pair of CMEs left the sun over the weekend, one propelled by a solar flare (M4-class), the other by an exploding magnetic filament. Neither CME is heading directly for Earth, but both could deliver glancing blows beginning midday on April 6th. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
SOLAR CYCLE UPDATE: New sunspot counts from NOAA confirm that Solar Cycle 25 is racing ahead of the official forecast--and the gap is growing:
See the complete labeled plot or play with an interactive version from NOAA
Sunspot counts have now exceeded predictions for 18 straight months. The monthly value at the end of March was more than twice the forecast, and the highest in nearly 7 years.
The "official forecast" comes from the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel, a group of scientists representing NOAA, NASA and International Space Environmental Services (ISES). The Panel predicted that Solar Cycle 25 would peak in July 2025 as a relatively weak cycle, similar in magnitude to its predecessor Solar Cycle 24. Instead, Solar Cycle 25 is shaping up to be stronger.
In March 2022, the sun produced 146 solar flares, including one X-flare and 13 M-flares. Auroras were sighted as far south as Colorado (+38N) and Nebraska (+42N). Multiple shortwave radio blackouts disrupted communications on ships at sea and airplanes flying over the poles. If current trends continue, April will be even busier. Stay tuned. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
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MAGNETIC FILAMENTS ON THE SUN: Sunspots aren't the only things on the sun that explode. So do filaments of magnetism. There are three of them on the sun today, circled in this photo from Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau of Rafaela, Argentina:
Magnetic filaments are plasma-filled tubes of magnetism that meander through the sun's atmosphere. They easily become unstable and erupt, hurling fragments of themselves into space. A CME from just such an eruption is due to graze Earth's magnetic field on April 6th.
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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