GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G1): NOAA forecasters say there is a chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms for the next 3 days. This is in response to multiple CMEs expelled by the sun, some of them approximately aimed at Earth. Glancing blows could disturb our planet's magnetic field on Jan. 24th, 25th and 26th. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
HYPERACTIVE SUNSPOT: The sun is crackling with solar flares, and almost all of them are coming from hyperactive sunspot AR3561. There have been more than a dozen M-class eruptions in the past day and a half:
The profusion of flares since the late hours of Jan. 22nd directly tracks the rapid growth of AR3561, which didn't exist when the week began. It is now a sprawling sunspot group 100,000 km wide with more than 20 dark cores. It has a mixed-polarity magnetic field that makes it naturally prone to frequent eruptions.
NOAA forecasters estimate a 75% chance of more M-class flares on Jan. 24th. Make that 100%. We've already observed two. How many will there be when the day is over? Stay tuned. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
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THE VALENTINE'S SPACE BOUQUET: Just in time for Valentine's Day--the biggest batch of crystal roses ever flown to space! On Jan. 13th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this 4-flower bouquet to the stratosphere. Floating on a cosmic ray balloon, it rose (no pun intended) to an altitude 109,252 feet above the Sierra Nevada of central California:
You can have them for $179.95. The students are selling space roses to fund their cosmic ray ballooning program. The flowers, stems and base are all made of Borosilicate Crown Crystal, the kind used in high-quality lenses and prisms. That's why the flowers glitter so colorfully in sunlight at the edge of space.
Each purchase comes with a greeting card showing the bouquet 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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