40% CHANCE OF FLARES TODAY: There are only 4 numbered sunspot groups on the sun today, but 3 of them have unstable 'beta-gamma' magnetic fields that harbor energy for strong solar flares. NOAA forecasters say there is a 40% chance of M-class flares and a 15% chance of X-flares on Jan. 5th. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
SOLAR MAX IS COMING: Since Solar Cycle 25 began in Dec. 2019, 782 sunspot groups have crossed the face of the sun. Almost half (361) appeared in 2023. This montage assembled by Ali Ebrahimi Seraji of the Mahani Observatory in Iran shows how sunspot production has skyrocketed:
"I created this 4-year overview using images from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory," says Seraji. "The graph beneath the images is from NOAA; it shows actual monthly sunspot counts (white) vs. predictions (blue). The sun is outperforming the forecast."
Many forecasters believe that Solar Max will occur in 2024. That means we can expect *even more* sunspots this year. Solar flare, geomagnetic storms and auroras are in the offing. Stay tuned! Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
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SIERRA MOONRISE SPACE PENDANT: Valentine's Day is coming. Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the Sierra Moonrise Pendant. It flew to the edge of space onboard a cosmic ray balloon, shown here 117,400 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of California:
You can have it for $142.95. The sterling silver pendant shows the craggy Sierra range with a full Moonstone rising overhead. It makes a great Valentine's, birthday, or anniversary present.
The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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