GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH--TODAY: Geomagnetic storms are possible today when two CMEs might hit Earth. A NOAA model shows the two CMEs leaving the sun on Aug. 5th, then merging to form a single 'cannibal CME' that delivers a glancing blow to Earth on Aug. 8th. Cannibal CMEs are famous for causing strong geomagnetic storms, and even a glancing blow can be effective. In this case, storm levels could reach category G2 (Moderate) with a slight chance of escalating to G3 (Strong). Aurora alerts: SMS Text
SPACEX TEARS ANOTHER HOLE IN THE IONOSPHERE: Last night, SpaceX launched 15 more Starlink satellites from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. En route to orbit, the Falcon 9 rocket tore a hole in the ionosphere. Dennis Mammana photographed the telltale red glow from Borrego Springs, CA:
"It crossed the Milky Way, forming a giant X in the night sky," says Mammana.
The red light in Mammana's photo is *not* rocket exhaust. Instead, it is the afterglow of a charge exchange reaction between rocket exhaust (mostly water) and gases in the ionosphere. The reaction quenched local ionization by as much as 70%, essentially erasing the ionosphere along the rocket's path.
Once rare, ionospheric holes are increasingly common due to record numbers of rocket launches. Not every launch makes one. A rocket has to burn through the F-layer of the ionosphere to initiate the reaction; many rockets cut off their engines before that. Even so, with SpaceX launching dozens of Starlink satellites every week, the red glow of ionospheric holes is becoming routine.
This time-lapse movie from Jeremy Parez of Flagstaff Arizona also captured some of the icy water vapor (pale blue) that fueled the reaction:
"The red ionosphere interaction occurred again and showed up very well photographically," says Perez.
So far as we know, ionospheric holes do no lasting harm. Ham radio operators may notice them when shortwave signals fail to skip over the horizon, shooting through holes instead of bouncing back to Earth. Sudden GPS errors can also result from the anomalies. However, these effects are shortlived. The holes are repaired as soon as the sun comes up again, exposing the ionosphere to normal amounts of ionizing radiation.
more images: from Drew Evans of Flagstaff, Arizona; from Jeremy Perez of Flagstaff, Arizona; from David Blanchard of Flagstaff, Arizona; from Mike Lewinski of Crestone, Colorado; from Lance Benner of Mt. Wilson, California;
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LIMITED EDITION ASTRONAUT SNOOPY: Everybody loves Snoopy. For the fan in your life, consider the gift of Astronaut Snoopy. On July 30th, 2023, this limited edition Funko Pop figurine flew to the stratosphere onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon.
You can have it for $119.95. Snoopy comes with a greeting card showing the space beagle in flight and telling the story of his trip to the stratosphere and back again. All sales support cosmic ray monitoring and hands-on STEM education.
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