ARTEMIS LAUNCH DELAYED WEEKS: NASA has scrubbed today's 2nd attempt to launch the Artemis I moon rocket because of a liquid hydrogen fuel leak. The next attempt won't happen for at least several weeks. "We will not be launching in this launch period," said Jim Free, associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate. "We are not where we wanted to be." For updates, stay tuned to the Artemis Blog.
A CRACK IN EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD: On Sept. 3rd, a crack opened in Earth's magnetic field (data). Solar wind poured in, sparking an unexpected G1-class geomagnetic storm. Wioleta Gorecka photographed bright auroras over Iceland:
"The show was absolutely stunning," says Gorecka. "I was going to take a photo of Milky Way, but... well... the Milk was green."
The storm is over now, but another could begin soon. NOAA has issued a Watch for G2-class storms on Sept. 4th. See below. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G2): NOAA forecasters say that G1 (minor) to G2-class (moderate) geomagnetic storms are possible on Sept. 4th when a stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The gaseous material is flowing from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere:
Above: An ultraviolet image of the sun taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory
This is a "coronal hole," a place where the sun's magnetic field opens up and allows solar wind to escape from the sun's corona. It looks dark because glowing-hot plasma that should be there is gone. It's on its way to Earth.
If the geomagnetic storm materializes as predicted, auroras could be visible in the USA as far south as Idaho and New York (geomagnetic latitude 50 degrees). Aurora alerts: SMS Text
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
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ROSE QUARTZ HEART PENDANT: Take a heart shaped piece of rose quartz. Wrap it in a sterling silver sunflower filigree. Then launch it to space. That's how you make an Earth to Sky Rose Quartz Heart Pendant. Here's one flying 107,400 feet above Earth on Aug. 26th:
You can have it for $142.95. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its trip to the edge of space. All sales support STEM science.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Noctilucent Cloud Photo Gallery
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