OLD VENUS PROBE TO CRASH INTO EARTH: In March 1972, Russia launched a spacecraft to Venus. The Venera probe (since renamed "Kosmos 482") never made it out of Earth orbit. A new analysis by Dr. Marco Langbroek suggests that orbital decay is bringing the old probe back to Earth. "This is a lander built to withstand atmospheric reentry [on Venus]," notes Langbroek, so it "will make for an interesting reentry sometime between 2024 and 2026." [Full story]
ANOTHER FLARE FROM SUNSPOT AR3014: Big sunspot AR3014 is crackling with M-class solar flares. The latest, an M3 event recorded during the early hours of May 20th, was big enough to swallow Earth:
A pulse of extreme ultraviolet radiation ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a minor shortwave radio blackout over the Indian Ocean: map. Transmissions at frequencies below 20 MHz were attentuated for more than an hour.
More flares are in the offing. AR3014 has an unstable 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for strong explosions. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of M-class flares and a 15% chance of X-flares during the next 24 hours. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
ONE THIRD OF THE DISTANCE FROM EARTH TO THE MOON: How big is sunspot AR3014? This photo taken by Mohammad Fadel Talafha of the University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) puts the behemoth in context:
"Its length (126340 km) is almost 1/3rd of the distance from Earth to the Moon," says Talafha.
These dimensions make it an easy target for backyard telescopes--safely filtered, of course. No solar filter? No problem. Projection techniques work, too.
AR3014 is so big it is technically a "naked eye" sunspot. In other words, you can see it without magnification. If you have a pair of eclipse glasses, put them on and take a look.
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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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