GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Minor (G1) to moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms are possible on May 7-8 in response to a series of CMEs that have left the sun in the past 48 hours. This is an uncertain forecast. Multiple explosions on May 4th and 5th produced overlapping CMEs, which are difficult to disentangle and properly model. Nevertheless, the growing number of Earthside eruptions is boosting the odds of a CME strike in the next few days. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
THE EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE: For the third day in a row, the sun is crackling with M-class solar flares. The action on May 5th began with a magnetic filament lifting off the sun's eastern limb, which set off a chain reaction recorded by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO):
The movie, above, was taken through SDO's 304 Å filter; it shows gas with a temperature of 50,000 K. Much hotter gas was involved, too. Take a look at 193 Å (1,000,000 K) and 131 Å (10,000,000 K). Viewing the event in these different wavelengths reveals not only strong flares but also a solar tsunami rippling through the sun's atmosphere. It was a big event.
The explosions of May 5th have hurled multiple overlapping CMEs into space: movie. At least one is probably Earth-directed. NOAA analysts are sorting out the storm clouds now and they may have a forecast to share later today. Stay tuned. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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MR. SPOCK SOAP (VULCAN MINT SCENTED): It's the logical way to get clean: Vulcan-mint scented Spock Soap. This bar touched space on April 29, 2023, when it hitched a ride onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon:
You can have it for $99.95. Not only does the bar smell like the mint gardens of Vulcan, but also each side of the wrapper features hilarious Spock lore. Take a look.
The students of Earth to Sky are selling space soap to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each bar comes with a greeting card showing the soap in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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