WAITING FOR THE SOLAR STORM: A CME expected to hit Earth on Dec. 16th has not yet arrived, but NOAA forecasters believe it is still coming. The storm cloud was hurled in our direction by last Thursday's X2.8-class solar flare. An overdue impact on Dec. 17th could cause G1 (Minor) to G2-class (Moderate) geomagnetic storms with auroras across northern-tier US states. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
THIS IS WHAT A RADIO BLACKOUT SOUNDS LIKE: On Dec. 14th, the sun silenced radio transmissions on Earth. An X2.8-class solar flare (the strongest flare of the current solar cycle, so far) ionized the top of our atmosphere, disrupting shortwave transmissions across the Americas. In rural New Mexico, amateur radio astronomer Thomas Ashcraft recorded the blackout:
"As my dynamic spectrum shows, all terrestrial shortwave radio transmissions coming into New Mexico faded for 10 to 15 minutes after the flare," says Ashcraft. "The blackout affected all frequencies below 30 MHz."
The blackout was not completely silent, however. Minutes after it began, the sun filled the quietude with a roar of static. It was a Type II solar radio burst caused by shock waves in the leading edge of a CME emerging from the blast site.
"The shock wave packed a punch!" says Ashcraft. "You can hear what it sounded like in this 90 second audio file."
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
AMBER DRAGONFLY SPACE PENDANT: This dragonfly has touched space. On Nov. 28th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon, 109,228 feet above California's Sierra Nevada:
You can have it for $179.95. Made of genuine Baltic Amber with a sterling silver exoskeleton, the pendant measures 1 1/4 inch and comes with a matching 18-inch sterling silver chain. The wings of the dragonfly include four pieces of natural amber colored Cognac, Olive Green and Honey Yellow.
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