GEOMAGNETIC UNREST POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND: NOAA forecasters say that geomagnetric unrest is possible on Jan. 13th in response to one or more passing CMEs. These are near-miss CMEs, not direct hits. The ripple effect of the passing clouds is likely to disturb Earth's magnetic field without triggering full-fledged geomagnetic storms. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
IS SOMETHING COMING? The Earthside of the sun is mostly quiet. A more active region might be lurking around the corner. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory just saw a huge plume of plasma fly up from behind the sun's eastern limb:
The blast site is hidden from view. It could be linked to an active farside sunspot group. If so, the sun's rotation will turn it to face Earth later this week. Stay tuned! Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
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COMET 12P MISSED A BEAT: So much for 'Old Faithful.' Late last year, an ice geyser on Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks started erupting every 15 days like clockwork. It was so reliable, astronomers began making predictions about future eruptions. Naturally, that's when the comet missed a beat:
Nick James of the British Astronomical Association made this plot, a lightcurve composed of measurements more than a dozen amateur and professional astronomers. The red arrow (added by us) shows the missing eruption on Dec. 29th following three previous outbursts on Nov. 15th, Dec. 1st, and Dec. 14th.
"There have been no significant outbursts since the one on Dec. 14th," notes James. "We are coming up to 30 days since the last outburst, so please observe this comet whenever you can." A new eruption could be just days away--if 12P regains its rhythm.
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"TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART" PENDANT: This is a rare and precious item. On Aug. 21, 2017, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched 11 space weather balloons into the Great American Solar Eclipse. This premium pendant went along for the ride, floating 101,004 feet high, where it was swallowed by the shadow of the Moon at the edge of space:
You can have it for $299.95. During the 2.5 hour flight, the pendant was wrapped in the Moon's shadow for more than two minutes, experiencing a spooky darkness colder than -50 C.
The pendant's blue Swarovski crystal is wrapped in a sterling silver frame engraved with the words "I ♥ u to the Moon and Back." It comes with a unique gift card showing the jewelry passing through the Moon's shadow and telling the story of its flight.
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