INCREASING CHANCE OF FLARES: NOAA forecasters say there is a 20% chance of M-class solar flares today, but that may be an underestimate. Sunspots AR3098 and AR3101 are both increasingly active, and old sunspot AR3088 (famous for hammering Venus) is now returning over the southeast limb. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
AURORAS FROM THE WINDOW SEAT: Travel advisory: If you're flying at high-latitudes this month, grab a window seat. Kelly Lee took this advice, and here is what they saw on Sept 9th:
"I was onboard a plane cruising at 35,000 ft between Ontario and Quebec," says Lee. "The auroras were so bright, their reflection was visible on the wing."
September is a good month to see auroras from the window seat--one of the best, in fact. At this time of year, cracks form in Earth's magnetic field. Even slight gusts of solar wind can penetrate to spark a light show. Researchers call this the "Russell-McPherron effect," and it is why autumn is such a good time to see auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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RARE REFLECTION RAINBOW: We've all seen one rainbow. Sometimes we even see two. But three? "It was pretty puzzling," says Anders Källberg, who photographed two normal rainbows with an unusual third cutting across them over Kolåsen, Sweden:
Källberg captured a rare "reflection rainbow." To understand where it comes from, first consider how normal rainbows are formed:
Rainbows appear when sunlight bounces in and out of falling raindrops. Raindrops act like tiny prisms, spreading sunbeams into their constituent colors. One bounce produces the primary rainbow. Two bounces creates the secondary rainbow. Three bounces .... wait! ... that's not where the third rainbow comes from.
The third rainbow is actually a primary rainbow created by sunlight reflected from a nearby body of water. An image of the sun in the mirror-like surface of a lake or stream shines up into the raindrops, producing a new rainbow from a completely different direction.
Indeed, says Källberg, "there was a large lake behind my back, and the reflected sun was shining up from it. What a fun effect!"
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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.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
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