GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Intermittent geomagnetic storms are likely for the next 48 hours in response to a CME that struck Earth on May 9th and another CME that will strike Earth on May 11th (described below). Storm levels could reach category G2 with a slight chance of G3. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARE AND CME: Reversed-polarity sunspot AR3296 unleashed a double solar flare on May 9th. Watch the closely-spaced explosions in this movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:
Extreme ultraviolet radiation from the double blast ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a shortwave radio blackout over North America and the Pacific Ocean. Mariners and ham radio operators may have noticed loss of signal at frequencies below 25 MHz between 1900 and 2100 UT (May 9th).
This explosion also hurled a CME into space, a beautiful lopsided halo:
This CME definitely has an Earth-directed component. According to a NASA model, it should reach Earth on May 11th at 1800 UT. The impact could spark G2 (Moderate) to G3-class (Strong) geomagnetic storms. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
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SILVER SNOOPY SPACE PENDANT: Snoopy has touched space. This sterling silver pendant flew to the stratosphere on April 15, 2023, floating on a cosmic ray balloon 117,400 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $159.95. Space Snoopy makes a great birthday, anniversary or Mother's day gift. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the pendant 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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