A DANGEROUS SUNSPOT: Sunspot AR3217 has a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. Indeed, it just unleashed one (see below). The sunspot is turning toward Earth so any flares this weekend are likely to be geoeffective. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
SOLAR FLARE AND RADIO BLACKOUT: Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected an X1.1-class solar flare from sunspot AR3217 (Feb. 11th @ 1548 UTC). Extreme UV radiation ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a strong shortwave radio blackout over South America:
Ham radio operators, aviators, and mariners may have noticed unusual propagation effects at frequencies below 30 MHz for as much as an hour after the flare.
This was an impulsive flare, intense and fast. It may not have lasted long enough to lift a CME out ofthe sun's atmosphere. Confirmation awaits fresh data from SOHO coronagraphs. Stay tuned. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
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GREEN COMET, RED PLANET: Comet ZTF (C/2022 E3) is having a close encounter with Mars. Michael Jaeger photographed the duo last night from AZM Martinsberg, Austria:
"Comet ZTF is approaching the ecliptic and is now near Mars," says Jaeger. On. Saturday night they will be less than 1 degree apart.
The two celestial bodies are a study in contrast. Mars is red (due to rust in the planet's regolith). Comet ZTF is green (due to diatomic carbon in its atmosphere). Mars is 100 times brighter and easy to see with the unaided eye. Comet ZTF is nearly invisible.
Astrophotographers, point your optics at Mars and take a long exposure. The comet will appear nearby. Got an image? Submit it here!
more images: from Ian Griffin of Portobello, New Zealand
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18K GOLD CUPID'S COMPASS: Are you looking for a romantic gift? Consider Cupid's Compass. This premuim 18K gold-filled pendant flew to the stratosphere on Jan. 6th onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $259.95. Engraved with the words "I'd be lost without you", the hypoallergenic pendant has a 5-star cubic zirconia crystal in the middle surrounded by a ring of equally high-grade 5A cubic zirconia nuggets. It is a visually striking pendant that makes a once-in-a-lifetime Valentine's, anniversary or birthday gift.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
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CANYON OF FIRE: No sunspot was involved in this explosion. Yesterday, Feb. 10th, a filament of magnetism in a spotless region of the sun rose up and exploded. The filament sliced through the sun's atmosphere, forming a 'canyon of fire':
The exiting ribbon dragged enough of the sun's atmosphere with it to form a bright albeit slow-moving CME: movie. NOAA analysts have modeled the CME and determined that it will pass mostly south of Earth. However, a glancing blow is possible on Feb. 15th. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras on that date. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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