THE RADIATION STORM IS SUBSIDING: Yesterday's solar radiation storm is subsiding. It is now a minor S1-class event, which poses no threat to astronauts or air travelers. Only Earth's polar regions are feeling a lingering effect of the storm. Shortwave radio transmissions inside the Arctic and Antarctic Circles are still being absorbed. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G1): A coronal mass ejection (CME) might graze Earth this week. It left the sun yesterday following a strong solar flare (M6.8-class) from departing sunspot AR3559.
Above: A SOHO coronagraph movie of the partial halo CME, which might graze Earth
A NASA model of the CME suggests it will graze Earth during the early hours of Jan. 31st. Such an impact could spark a G1-class geomagnetic storm with auroras at high latitudes.
Note: All those speckles in the SOHO coronagraph animation, above, are solar protons striking the spacecraft's camera. This is a side-effect of yesterday's solar radiation storm.
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STERLING SILVER SNOOPY & WOODSTOCK PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out Valentine's gift? Consider the Snoopy and Woodstock pendant. On Jan. 26th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $149.95. Framed by sterling silver, the pendant shows Snoopy handing Woodstock a miniature ruby heart, expressing a joyous affection that will delight any Peanuts fan.
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
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