GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on March 4th and 5th in response to an incoming CME. Hurled into space by the M8.6-class flare of Feb. 28th, the CME is not heading directly for Earth. Instead it will deliver only a glancing blow when it arrives. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
SOLAR CYCLE UPDATE: February was another strong month for Solar Cycle 25. According to NOAA, the average sunspot number was among the highest of the past 10 years:
Originally, forecasters thought Solar Cycle 25 would be about the same as Solar Cycle 24, one of the weakest solar cycles in a century. February's sunspot numbers are the latest sign that Solar Cycle 25 will exceed predictions. In fact, Solar Cycle 25 has outperformed the official forecast for more than 24 months in a row.
Solar Maximum is not expected until 2024 or 2025, so the solar cycle has plenty of time to strengthen even more, bringing X-flares, geomagnetic storms and auroras. You can follow the progression here.
VENUS-JUPITER CONJUNCTION: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. Venus and Jupiter are shining through the twilight less than 1 degree apart. Ruslan Merzlakov photographed the ongoing conjunction from Thy National Park in Denmark:
"I was able to capture this magical conjunction reflected in a small forest lake," says Merzlakov. "It was like a kiss in the sky."
more images: from Soumyadeep Mukherjee of Dhanbad, India; from Karzaman Ahmad of Langkawi Island, Malaysia; from Andres Páez Joannis of Chihuahua, Chih. México; from Mike White of Canterbury, New Zealand; from Toms Bokums of Liepaja, Latvia; from Gwenaël Blanck of Paris, France; from Jorge Luis Arango Gaviria of Envigado, Antioquia, Colombia
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SOLAR ECLIPSE CRYSTAL PYRAMID: On Aug. 21, 2017, during the Great American Solar Eclipse, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched 11 space weather balloons from the path of totality. The armada soared into the stratosphere, touching the shadow of the Moon more than 100,000 feet above Earth's surface. This pyramid hitched a ride:
You can have it for $159.95. With the sun, Earth, and Moon perfectly aligned, the faces of the 5-sided crystal caught the reflection of the eclipsed sun. Watch the video! The pyramid comes with a gift card showing the crystal floating at the top of Earth's atmosphere and passing through the Moon's shadow. The interior of the card tells the story of the flight and confirms that this gift has been to the edge of space and back again.
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