FAST-GROWING SUNSPOT: Suddenly, sunspot AR3169 is growing. During the past 24 hours it has added a dozen moon-sized dark cores to the previously empty region between itself and trailing sunspot AR3171: movie. The boiling emergence of so much magnetic flux could destabilize the sunspot's magnetic field and trigger strong flares.Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
MAGNETIC FILAMENT ERUPTION: A CME may be en route to Earth following the eruption of a magnetic filament. It lifted off from the sun's northern hemisphere during the early hours of Dec. 24th:
Debris from the blast ripped through the sun's atmoshere and hurled a fast-moving CME into space. NOAA forecasters say it could hit Earth's magnetic field on Dec. 27th and spark G1-class geomagnetic storms. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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CHRISTMAS COMETS: For the second year in a row, the Oort Cloud sent astronomers a comet for Christmas. Bill Williams photographed both from the Chiefland Astro Village in Florida:
"Two years in a row, we have been treated to beautiful comets at Christmas-time!" says Williams. "Last year, it was spectacular Comet Leonard in the evening dusk; this year, it's Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3) in the pre-dawn hours."
"A powerful cold front dipped into Florida this morning, playing havoc with seeing conditions," he says. "It is a 'Christmas miracle' that I was able to image Comet ZTF despite blustery winds and 'evaporating' guide stars!"
This year's Christmas comet (ZTF) is approaching Earth for a close encounter at the end of January. Already glowing like an 8th magnitude star, it is an easy target for backyard telescopes. Point your optics here.
AMBER BUMBLEBEE SPACE PENDANT: Bumblebees don't usually fly so high. On Oct 15, 2022, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this one to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. Here it is floating 115,158 feet above California's Sierra Nevada:
You can have it for $179.95. This bee is made of genuine Baltic Amber with a sterling silver exoskeleton. The rich Cognac-colored pendant measures 3/4 inch and comes with a matching 18-inch sterling silver chain.
The students are selling these unique pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the bumblebee in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
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All sales support hands-on STEM education
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