GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on July 20th or 21st when a slow-moving CME is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The CME was hurled into space by yesterday's 'canyon of fire' eruption, described below. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
A 'CANYON OF FIRE' JUST OPENED ON THE SUN: A dark filament of magnetism whipsawed out of the sun's atmosphere on July 15th, carving a gigantic 'canyon of fire.' NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the eruption:
The walls of the canyon, which stretch diagonally across the video, are 20,000 km high and 10 times as long. They trace the channel where the filament was suspended by magnetic forces above the sun's surface, before instabilities flung it skyward.
Soon after the eruption, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) saw a partial halo CME emerging from the sun's northern hemisphere. Play the movie. NOAA analysts say the CME could hit Earth's magnetic field on July 20th or 21st. The CME is a slow mover, but even slow CMEs can cause minor geomagnetic storms. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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MID-LATITUDE NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: July 2022 has been a good month for noctilucent clouds--one of the best in 15 years. Last night, the electric-blue forms descended to middle latitudes. Mark Schanke sends this picture from Richland, Washington (+46N):
NLCs are Earth's highest clouds. They form when summertime wisps of water vapor rise up to the edge of space, frosting specks of meteor smoke. The resulting ice crystals organize themselves into rippling electric-blue clouds that shine at night. They are, literally, nocti lucent.
Noctilucent clouds prefer the North Pole, but during strong seasons they can spill across the Arctic Circle to lower latitudes. This is happening now. To see them, look north after sunset or before sunrise when the geometry is perfect for their illumination.
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STERLING SILVER TIGER HEART PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the sterling silver Tiger Heart Pendant. On June 26, 2022, this one hitched a ride to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $133.95. The golden tiger is surrounded by a partial halo of sparkling cubic zirconia crystals, tracing the shape of a heart. A rich layer of rhodium plating ensures the longevity of the pendant and its 18-inch chain.
The Tiger Heart Pendant makes a great anniversary, Christmas, or birthday gift. It comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
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