ASTEROID TO OCCULT BETELGEUSE: Next month, main-belt asteroid 319 Leona will pass directly in front of Betelgeuse, allowing astronomers to make a crude map of the star's surface. The occultation will be visible on Dec. 12th within a narrow corridor stretching from central Asia and southern Europe to Florida and Mexico. Data from the occultation may help theorists better predict when Betelgeuse will explode. Full story and observing tips.
MINOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM SPARKS U.S.A. AURORAS: Yesterday, Nov. 12th, a halo CME hit Earth's magnetic field. The impact was weak and at first it did little to disturb our planet's magnetic field. Later, however, a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm developed as Earth passed through the CME's wake. Naked eye auroras appeared in multiple northern-tier US states:
"After a few weeks of clouds ,it was a wonderful surprise to see the lights dance in November over Lake Superior!" says Jim Peacock, who photographed the display from Cornucopia, Wisconsin. The red tops of these auroras were photographed as far south as Nebraska. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
SOLAR CONJUNCTION OF MARS: Mars is about to pass directly behind the sun (Nov. 17th). That's a problem for NASA, because radio transmissions passing through the sun's atmosphere can become garbled, commanding Mars rovers and orbiters to do nonsensical things. To prevent confusion, NASA will hold off commanding its Mars fleet for two weeks, from Nov. 11th to 25th.
During this time, rovers Perseverance and Curiosity will remain parked as they monitor changes on local weather and radiation. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter will be grounded. It'll stay busy using its color camera to study the movement of sand--really! Mars orbiters will gather data as usual. All these missions will relay their stored data to NASA after the conjunction is over.
Lately, we have been using images from Perseverance to detect large sunspots on the farside ofthe sun. Those reports will resume after Thanksgiving.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
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 $229.95. 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
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter