GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G2-CLASS): A CME is heading for Earth, propelled by yesterday's unexpected eruption of dead sunspot AR2987. NOAA forecasters say that G2-class geomagnetic storms are possible when it arrives midday on April 14th. During such storms, auroras can seen as far south as, e.g., New York and Idaho (geomagnetic latitude 55 degrees). Aurora alerts: SMS Text
FARSIDE EXPLOSION TARGETS MERCURY: A coronal mass ejection (CME) flew away from the farside of the sun during the late hours of April 11th. A new NASA model shows it is going to hit Mercury. Note the orange dot in this forecast animation:
If the CME overwhelms Mercury's relatively weak magnetic field, it could scour material off the planet's surface creating a temporary atmosphere and adding material to Mercury's comet-like tail.
The farside of the sun has been active this week, with more than one significant CME. Helioseismic soundings of the farside reveal a large region of intense magnetism--probably a complex sunspot group. It will rotate over the sun's eastern limb about a week from now. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
STEVE APPEARS DURING GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A surprise geomagnetic storm on April 10th sparked auroras across Canada and many northern-tier US states. Upon closer inspection, not all the lights were auroras. "STEVE was there, too," reports Harlan Thomas, who sends this picture from Station Flats in Alberta, Canada:
STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) is a purple band of light that appears during some geomagnetic storms. It looks like an aurora, but it is not. The purple glow is caused by hot (3000°C) ribbons of gas flowing through Earth’s magnetosphere at speeds exceeding 6 km/s (13,000 mph).
"This was the brightest STEVE that I have seen," says Thomas. "It was so bright it overcame a 22-degree halo around the moon!"
Rocky Raybell of Keller, Washington, saw it, too.
For reasons researchers don't fully understand, STEVE comes out most often around equinoxes--that is, now. We can expect to see more of him in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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OCEAN BLUE CRYSTAL DOLPHIN PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the Ocean Blue Crystal Dolphin Pendant. It flew to the stratosphere on April 8th onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $172.95. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling these crystal cetaceans to support their cosmic ray monitoring program.
The dolphin is wrapped in a sterling silver wave and suspended from a matching 18-inch chain. It contains no nickel, no lead, no cadmium; the pendant is 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.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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