LONG DURATION SOLAR FLARE (UPDATED): Sunspot AR3116 erupted today, Oct. 7th, producing a long-duration M1-class solar flare. The explosion lasted more than 3 hours, giving it plenty of time to lift a CME into space. However, SOHO coronagraphs have detected no significant CME emerging from the blast site.This event may not be geoeffective. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
BLUEWALKER 3 UPDATE: AST SpaceMobile's controversial Bluewalker 3 satellite has been orbiting Earth and communicating with ground stations for nearly a month. It is stable, following the correct orbit, and taking great pictures of the planet below:
Now for the next step: Unfurling its enormous antenna. This could happen little more than a week from now.
Designed to supply 4G cell phone signals from space, Bluewalker 3's antenna is huge, 64 square meters or the size of a squash court. This flat surface orbiting 500 kilometers above Earth will reflect a lot of sunlight, which could make the satellite extremely visible to observers on the ground. Flares from Bluewalker 3 might even be brighter than Venus, outshining everything in the night sky except the Moon.
While this is only a single satellite for now, AST SpaceMobile plans to launch more than 100 larger satellites called BlueBirds. Doubling the size of BlueWalker 3, the Bluebirds would appear even brighter in the sky.
BlueWalker 3's 64-square-meter antenna will connect directly to standard mobile phones.
Hence the controversy. Astronomers worry that these satellites could interfere with deep sky observations by groundbased telescopes. Starlink satellites are already streaking images and ruining exposures. Bluewalker 3 and the Bluebirds could be 10 to 100 times brighter.
We will soon find out. Observers have been watching Bluewalker 3 since it launched on Sept. 10th. So far it is no brighter than a dim 3rd magnitude star, but its brightness could change dramatically when the antenna reaches full size. AST SpaceMobile says "we plan to unfold the array in the second half of October."
Stay tuned for sightings.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
RARE MR. SPOCK ORNAMENT: It's the logical way to decorate your Christmas tree--with a rare Mr. Spock ornament. This one has been to the edge of space. On Sept. 22, 2022, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched Spock to the stratosphere on board a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $129.95. The students are selling Spock ornaments to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Made by Hallmark in the 1990s, the ornament comes with a greeting card showing the science officer in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter