SpaceWeather.com Archive — Sat, Jun 11, 2022

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MID-LATITUDE NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: Noctilucent clouds (NLCs) are filling up the Arctic and spilling across the Arctic Circle to mid-latitudes. Sightings from France and Washington State confirm that NLCs have reached latitude +48 N. The clouds are expected to spread even farther south in the weeks ahead. Browse: NLC Photo Gallery.

PLANETS BEFORE BREAKFAST: How many planets can you see before breakfast? Tom Harradine of Brisbane, Australia, woke up early Thursday morning and found the entire solar system sprawled across the dawn sky:

"This might not be a very spectacular image, but it is relatively unique," says Harradine. "Captured here in a single photograph are all the major planets of our Solar System, spanning about 90° across the eastern dawn Brisbane sky. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be seen with the unaided eye. Uranus and Neptune require binoculars."

This is the first time since December 2004 that the five naked-eye planets have appeared together in this way. They are arrayed in order of distance from the sun: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. In the mornings ahead, Mercury will climb higher and brighten, making the group even easier to see.

Dates of special interest include June 16th when Mercury is farthest from the sun and June 21st through 26th when the Moon hops from planet to planet, producing a series of early morning conjunctions. Set your alarm for dawn and enjoy the show! Sky maps: today, June 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

more images: from Paolo Bardelli of Sumirago (Varese), Italy; from James Glucksman of Kakanui, New Zealand; from Bob Beal of Washington, Utah; from Noeleen Lowndes of Gold Coast Qld Australia; from Gary Dowdle of Fort Davis, Texas;

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LIMITED EDITION 'MIRROR SPOCK': In 1967, a transporter accident sent Mr. Spock into a parallel universe, swapping the science officer of the Enterprise with his evil twin. We just found him ... in the stratosphere. Here is "Mirror Spock" floating 108,551 feet high onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon:

You can have him for $170.10 (the serial number of the Enterprise divided by 10). Inspired by the classic "Mirror, Mirror" episode of Star Trek first broadcast on Oct. 6, 1967, this 8" statue is made of high-quality polystone resin and expertly painted. It comes with a greeting card showing Spock in flight and a certificate of authenticity.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, only 1000 limited edition Mirror Spock statues were manufactured and sold at sci-fi conventions in 2016. We've collected a few of these rarities to fly to the stratosphere. Get yours now.