INCREASING CHANCE OF FLARES: Sunspot AR3315 has developed a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for strong explosions. NOAA forecasters estimate a 55% chance of M-class solar flares and a 10% chance of X-flares on May 28th. Any eruptions will be geoeffective because the sunspot is directly facing Earth. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
SPECTACULAR ERUPTION: Yesterday, astronomers in Europe witnessed the most spectacular eruption of Solar Cycle 25 so far. "It was a spine-chilling moment for me," says Mehmet Ergün, who photographed the massive spray of plasma from his observatory in Traisen, Germany:
"This was probably the biggest eruption I have ever seen," says Ergün. "Such events cannot be planned. I was lucky to be looking when it happened."
Many observers noted the rapidity of the blast. Giorgio Rizzarelli of Trieste, Italy, says "it lasted only about one hour. Fast prominences like this are uncommon. From a movie I made I estimate its speed was comparable to that of the solar wind." Dennis Put of The Netherlands says "it was changing so rapidly, which made it very spectacular."
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured a beginning-to-end movie of the blast:
What exploded? We don't know. The blast site is hidden behind the sun's southeastern limb. Helioseismic maps of the sun's farside suggest a large sunspot may be located at the base of the spray. If so, it will turn toward Earth a few days from now. Stay tuned. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
more images:from Philippe Tosi of Nîmes, France; from Guenther Eder of Mariazell, Austria, Styria; from Giorgio Rizzarelli of Trieste, Italy; from Dennis Put of Arnhem, The Netherlands
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FOR FATHER'S DAY--THE MR. SPOCK COFFEE CUP: Father's Day is coming. Give dad the gift of coffee in a Mr. Spock Cup. It has pointy ears, holds 20 oz. of brew, and comes from the edge of space. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew this cup to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $99.95. The students are selling Spock cups to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with greeting card showing the heavy-duty ceramic cup in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
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