MINOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: NOAA forecasters say that minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are likely on March 26th as Earth passes through a stream of high-speed solar wind. The gaseous material is flowing from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
RED AURORAS OVER NEW MEXICO: During the severe geomagnetic storm of March 23-24, auroras spread into the United States as far south as New Mexico (+32.8N). Jack Dembicky recorded the red glow from the Apache Point Observatory in Sunspot, NM:
Did you miss it? Play the video again and look for the red fringe. Slow waves of scarlet rippled across the northern horizon for more than an hour during the apex of the storm.
Most auroras are green, yet when auroras spread to low latitudes, the sightings are almost always red. There's a simple reason for this. Ordinary green auroras come from oxygen atoms about 150 km above Earth's surface. Red auroras are also caused by oxygen, but much higher, between 150 km and 500 km. From far-south places like New Mexico, low-hanging greens are eclipsed by the northern horizon, leaving the higher reds to dominate the display.
Other notable sightings of low-latitude red auroras during last week's storm include North Carolina (+36.5N), Colorado (+40.4N), and California (+39.7N). Did you see red? Submit your photos here. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
"DAMMIT JIM, I'M A DOCTOR NOT A COFFEE CUP": There's nothing like morning coffee in a cup from space. This rare ceramic Dr. McCoy mug has flown to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon. At the apex of the flight, it floated 95,254 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $99.95. The students are selling Star Trek mugs to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one holds 16 oz. of steaming hot Raktajino (Klingon coffee) and comes with a greeting card showing the collector's item in flight.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter