A HOLE IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE: A high-speed stream of solar wind is approaching Earth. ETA: Dec. 1st or 2nd. The gaseous material is flowing from a canyon-like hole in the sun's atmosphere. Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible when the solar wind arrives. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
HOW BRIGHT IS BLUEWALKER 3? When SpaceX launched the giant Bluewalker 3 satellite two months ago, some analysts feared it might become the brightest thing in the night sky. It's not that bad. This fisheye view of a pass over St. George, Utah, on Nov. 22nd shows what observers have been seeing:
"Bluewalker 3 was visible in mid-evening twilight," says says photographer Bob Beal. "I first detected it in 7x35 binoculars as it was approaching Altair in the southwest; then I picked it up by eye. As Bluewalker 3 crossed near the zenith it brightened to a solid magnitude +2."
Other observers have seen it shining as much as a magnitude brighter: +1.0. These values put Bluewalker 3 among the top 50 brightest stars in the sky--not bad, but not good either. When Bluewalker 3 passes in front of a research-grade telescope, it completely overwhelms faint stars, asteroids, and distant galaxies.
While this is only a single satellite for now, Bluewalker's maker AST SpaceMobile plans to launch more than 100 larger satellites called BlueBirds. These satellites could be more than twice the size of BlueWalker 3 and much brighter. Flocks of Bluebirds could ruin a lot of astronomical observations. No wonder the International Astronomical Union has launched a new center to fight the threat of satellite megaconstellations.
more images: from Milan Antoš of Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic; from Paolo Bardelli of Sumirago (Varese), Italy; from Jun Lao of Mason, Ohio; from Charles Kiesel of Fort Branch, Indiana;
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STORM TROOPER WHISKEY GLASS: If you like your drink cold--really cold--this glass is for you. On Nov. 25th, it flew to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon. At the apex of the flight (117,109 ft), the temperature was a frosty -63C:
You can have it for $99.95. This double-walled whiskey glass is cast from one of the original molds for Storm Trooper helmets used in Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. Made of high quality borosilicate, the glass is thin, hard and lead-free. It makes a great Christmas gift for Star Wars fans.
The glass comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight, and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
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All sales support hands-on STEM education
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