WEEKEND GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A CME (movie) is expected to hit Earth this weekend--probably on Nov. 19th. The impact could spark minor G1-class geomagnetc storms on the 19th and 20th. During such storms, naked-eye auroras typically fill the Arctic Circle. Fainter photographic auroras (best seen using cameras) may cross the US-Canadian border, dipping into states from New York to Washington. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
THE COMET REPORT: No one knows what to expect from cryo-volcanic Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which erupted again on Nov. 15th. "I made a observation of 12P on Friday evening," reports Lars Zielke from Nerpio, Spain. "What a surprise... I saw a very clear dark streak in the sphere surrounding the comet."
Yesterday, the debris was an optically-thick almost perfectly round sphere. Today, it is cleft by a growing wedge of darkness. A similarly-intense eruption in July produced "devil's horns." Presumably, these features trace back to complex topography on the comet's surface, which is festooned with ice volcanoes.
"There is a lot going on with this comet," says Zielke. "It is one of the most interesting objects to follow in the sky right now."
Indeed, monitoring is encouraged. Comet 12P is currently shining at 9th magnitude, which puts it within range of amateur telescopes. It's easy to find in the constellation Hercules not far from the bright star Vega. Point your optics here.
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
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LARGE FARSIDE SUNSPOTS: We can't see the farside of the sun, but we know what's there. The science of helioseismology allows researchers to make crude maps of the sun's hidden hemisphere. Their latest map reveals two large farside sunspots:
The black blobs are sunspots so large they effect the way the whole sun vibrates. Indeed, these vibrations are the data used by helioseismologists to pintpoint the unseen spots. Both sunspots will rotate onto the Earthside of the sun early next week.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
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OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD STOCKING STUFFER: Are you looking for a far-out stocking stuffer? The logical choice is Spock Soap. This bar touched space on April 29, 2023, when it hitched a ride onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon:
You can have it for $49.95. Not only does the bar smell like the mint gardens of Vulcan, but also each side of the wrapper features hilarious Spock lore. Take a look.
The students of Earth to Sky are selling space soap to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each bar comes with a greeting card showing the soap in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again. Jean-Luc Picard soap is available, too!
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter