RAPIDLY GROWING SUNSPOT: Since yesterday, big sunspot AR3014 has doubled in size. This 24-hour movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the sunspot's rapid growth. AR3014 has a 'beta-gamma' magnetic field that harbors energy for strong M-class solar flares. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
ANTARCTIC LUNAR ECLIPSE: Around the world, millions of people saw the May 15th lunar eclipse. Only a few saw it from Antarctica. Thomas Leps sends this picture from the geographic South Pole:
Leps operates the international BICEP array at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station. "We examine the polarization of the cosmic microwave background to look for evidence of gravity waves and primordial black holes in the early universe," he explains.
On May 15th he took a break to go outside and photograph the lunar eclipse.
"I was taking a time-lapse of the eclipse, but my camera shut off in the cold--the temperature was about -80F with 15 knots of wind," says Leps. "When I got it running again, a very bright aurora appeared in a single band across the entire sky, intersecting the Milky Way and passing over the eclipsed moon. I set up my camera as quickly as I could. Setting the camera can be tricky at these temperatures because the rear screen tends to freeze up after a little over a minute outside. In this case it all came together to make a great picture to remember the day by when I’m up North again."
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"I LOVE YOU FOREVER" MOONSTONE PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the "I Love You Forever" Moonstone. This one hitched a ride to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research ballooin on May 13, 2022:
You can have it for $162.95. The moonstone's sterling silver infinity wrap is inscribed with the words "I love you forever." It makes a great anniversary or birthday gift. The moonstone comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight, telling the story of its trip to the edge of space and back again.
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