BIG SUNSPOT ALERT: A new and apparently large sunspot is emerging over the sun's southeastern limb, right here. Helioseismic echoes from the farside of the sun suggest this may be the leading edge of an even larger sunspot group. Stay tuned for updates as the sun's rotation brings this region into better view. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
RADIO AMATEURS HACK A NASA SPACECRAFT: Ham radio operators are picking up a strong signal from space. It's NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft returning home after 17 years.
"I'm having fun with STEREO-A," reports Scott Tilley (VE7TIL) of Roberts Creek, British Columbia. "The spacecraft is coming close to Earth this summer, and I can now receive its signal using a small 26-inch dish in my backyard." Here is what he picked up on July 2nd:
See also an animated version of these data. The X-flare is right here.
"We caught an X-flare in progress," Tilley says. "Naked-eye sunspot AR3354 was really crackling."
STEREO-A left Earth on Oct. 26, 2006, launched from Cape Canaveral with its sister ship STEREO-B. Both spacecraft were on a mission to the farside of the sun. Over the years, they would circle behind behind the sun, beaming images back to Earth so scientists could make 3D models of solar activity. In 2014, STEREO-B failed and was not heard from again. STEREO-A kept going, and now it is on its way back.
Earlier this summer, Tilley began hearing rumors that other radio operators were picking up signals from STEREO-A at 8443.580 MHz. He decided to check it out. "The central carrier is very loud, almost 30dB above the noise," he says. "I also noticed data sidebands, which are unusual to see on such a distant object for my small antenna."
Right: STEREO-A coronagraph images of Mercury passing the sun, eavesdropped by Scott Tilley.
At first, the signal was indecipherable. But Tilley found lots of information about its format posted by NASA on public websites; it wasn't a secret. Using a program called "SatDump" written by Alan Antoine (F4LAU), he successfully demodulated the data. Now Tilley is monitoring data streams from almost all of STEREO-A's science instruments including its extreme ultraviolet imager (EUVI), two coronagraphs (COR1 and COR2), the heliospheric imager (HI) and a solar radio burst receiver (S/WAVES).
At closest approach on August 17th, STEREO-A will be only 0.05 AU (7.5 million km) from Earth. By then, signals from the spacecraft will have more than doubled in strength, making it even easier to "hack."
"What started out as a passing curiosity is now turning into a summer pastime," says Tilley. "This is a unique time to play with STEREO-A."
Hams, would you like to monitor STEREO-A? A technical blog post just published by Tilley explains exactly how to do it.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
APOLLO 11 PROOF SILVER DOLLAR: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider this: On July 20, 2019 (the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing), the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew this rare proof silver dollar to the stratosphere:
The US Mint created Apollo 11 coins to celebrate the first Moon landing--but you can no longer buy them from the Mint. You can, however, get one from Earth to Sky Calculus. The students are selling the collector's item for $259.95 to support their cosmic ray ballooning program.
The silver dollar is curved and reproduces the helmet of astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Reflected in Buzz's visor are Neil Armstrong, the United States flag, and the lunar lander. The opposite side of the coin shows Neil's iconic footprint on the Moon. Included is a greeting card showing the coin in flight and a certificate of authenticity.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Noctilucent Cloud Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter