POSSIBLE CME IMPACT (UPDATED): NOAA's DSCOVR spacecraft observed a discontinuity in the solar wind during the late hours of April 9th, signifying the arrival of an unexpected CME. The weak impact did not spark a geomagnetic storm. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
A NEW SOURCE OF SOLAR FLARES: A new sunspot is emerging over the sun's southeastern limb, and it is crackling with flares. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded this M2-class eruption on April 10th:
A pulse of extreme ultraviolet radiation from the flare ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a brief shortwave radio blackout over Australia and the Indian Ocean. Mariners and ham radio operators might have noticed loss of signal below 25 MHz around 0520 UT. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
JUPITER SPACECRAFT PHOTO-OP: The European Space Agency is about to launch a very important spacecraft: The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer--"Juice" for short. Its mission is to probe Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, moons with oceans larger than those of Earth and possible habitats for extraterrestrial life. Liftoff is scheduled for April 13th (12:15 UT) from French Guiana.
"It may be possible for experienced observers to photograph Juice as it recedes on the night after launch," says John H. Rogers, the Jupiter Section Director of the British Astronomical Association. "The solar panels should be deployed by 100 minutes after launch, with full deployment over the next 17 days. You can obtain an ephemeris from JPL-Horizons. Type 'Juice' in for the target body."
"The best views will be from the Far East and Australia, from about 14:00 UT onwards when solar panels are deployed," sys Rogers. "The brightness will then diminish as the distance from Earth increases; by the time it is visible from western Europe, approaching 150,000 km out, one experienced observer suggests that it might be around mag.13 or 14."
Juice will take 8 years to reach Jupiter. After a series of visits to Callisto and Europa, Juice will enter into a permanent orbit around Ganymede in 2034--the first time a spacecraft has ever held an orbit around a moon other than our own. Bigger than the planet Mercury, Ganymede is also the only moon in the solar system with its own magnetic field, providing a possible protective cocoon for life.
If you see Juice leaving Earth, please submit your photos here.
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WHERE NO MUG HAS GONE BEFORE: There's nothing like morning coffee in a cup from space. See for yourself with a rare ceramic Capt. Kirk mug. This one flew to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon, floating 97,438 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $170.10. That's the serial number of the Enterprise divided by 10. 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
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