A LULL IN SUNSPOT ACTIVITY: In the past two weeks, sunspot counts have sharply dropped, leaving the solar disk without any complex or very active sunspots. Does this mean Solar Cycle 25 is ending prematurely? No. "Sunspot lulls" are normal statistical fluctuations observed during even very strong solar cycles. Solar Cycle 25 will soon bounce back as it heads for a maximum in 2024-25. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
CME IMPACT SPARKS AURORAS: Arriving earlier than expected, a CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Oct. 20th. Although it was a weak impact (indeed, it was initially overlooked), the CME's wake contained strong magnetic fields that opened a crack in Earth's magnetosphere. Solar wind poured through the gap to fuel auroras in both hemispheres. Ian Griffin photographed the display from the Otago Peninsula of New Zealand:
"I was out getting ready to photograph the Orionid meteor shower, which is in the Northern sky from here in New Zealand," says Griffin. "But at around 9:30 local time my attention was focused entirely in the opposite direction as a wonderful display of the aurora australis exploded in the southrern sky."
Auroras were also visible in the northern hemisphere. Fantastic shapes including beads and swirls were observed over Canada, while photographic auroras descended into the United States as far south as Kansas and Missouri.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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HANDMADE ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE PENDANT: This pendant has touched the shadow of the Moon. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere on Oct. 14, 2023, during the annular solar eclipse. The handmade pendant was 78,500 feet high when the Moon's shadow arrived and wrapped it in a cool twilight-like darkness:
You can have it for $129.95. The pendant left Earth from Nevada's Valley of the Moon, a remote area filled with the scent of sage and herds of wild horses. Indeed, no fewer than three mustang families approached the launch team during the eclipse to see what was going on. It was a magical experience.
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
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
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Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
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