THOSE SUNSPOTS ARE GETTING BIGGER: A line of sunspots is marching across the sun's northern hemisphere, and some of them are growing rapidly: movie. NOAA forecasters say there is a 25% chance of M-class solar flares and a 5% chance of X-flares on Sept. 7th. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
THE STORM-BATTERED TAIL OF COMET NISHIMURA: At least two CMEs have hit Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1) in the past few days. The solar storms are having a destructive effect on the comet's tail. Eliot Herman photographed the damage from Tucson, Arizona:
"This image is a highly stretched gray and inverted version of a photo I captured on Sept. 6th," says Herman. "It shows the impact of solar activity on the tail of the comet."
The breaks Herman observed are the result of multiple CME impacts. Each one causes magnetic reconnection inside the comet's tail--a phenomenon researchers call a "disconnection event." They are literally ripping the comet's tail apart.
Comet Nishimura is plunging toward the sun for a close encounter inside the orbit of Mercury on Sept. 17th. At such close range it cannot avoid solar storms. Amateur astronomers who photograph Comet Nishimura in the days ahead are likely to capture more of these events. The comet is currently shining like a 5th magnitude star, which makes it an easy target for mid-sized backyard telescopes. Submit your pictures here.
Resources: observing tips, sky map, light curve.
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
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18K GOLD "ALWAYS AND FOREVER" PENDANT: Are you looking for an unforgettable gift? Consider the Always and Forever Space Pendent. On Aug. 29, 2023, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $199.95. Engraved with the words "I love you always and forever", this 18K gold-plated sterling silver pendant has a heart-shaped ruby crystal in the middle surrounded by a ring of glittering 5A cubic zirconia nuggets. It is a visually striking premium pendant that makes a once-in-a-lifetime anniversary or birthday gift.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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