GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (UPDATED): Odds are improving that there will be a G1-class geomagnetic storm on March 9th. NOAA forecaster believe that a CME and a solar wind stream will graze Earth's magnetic field on that date. Normally, the glancing blows might not cause a magnetic storm. However, at this time of year, even weak impacts can do the job because of the equinox Russell-McPherron effect. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
COMET 12P AND THE ANDROMEDA GALAXY: This week, cryovolcanic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is passing by the Andromeda Galaxy in the western evening sky. Petr Horálek photographed the wide conjunction from Revúca, Slovakia:
"This was wild," says Horálek. "On March 5th, I drove 300 km to Telgart, Slovakia, where the forecast predicted clear skies. But the forecast was wrong! When I reached Telgart, the sky was hopelessly cloudy. I almost gave up and was returning home through truly thick fog when, abruptly, the sky cleared. I pulled into a field where the comet was low over the horizon and blindly took this exposure."
It turned out pretty well.
Photographers, if you have clear skies, this is a good week to photograph Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. It is about 10 degrees from the Andromeda Galaxy and bright enough to catch with a short nighttime exposure. The Andromeda Galaxy is magnitude +3.4 (visible to the naked eye on moonless nights); Comet 12P is not far behind at magnitude +5.5. Point your cameras here.
more images: from David Blanchard of Wupatki National Monument, Arizona; from Michael Jaeger of Karlstein Austria; from Malcolm Park of Harrowsmith, Ontario; from Graziano Ventre of Bellagio Via Lattea, Italy; from Lionel Majzik of Tápióbicske, Pest, Hungary; from Chris Schur of Happy Jack, AZ
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
18K GOLD "LOVE YOU TO THE MOON" LOCKET: This is a very special locket. It's heart-shaped, plated with 18K gold, and we will fly it again during this year's total eclipse of the sun. Keep reading...
On Jan. 26, 2024, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this locket to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. At the apex of the flight, it floated 111,535 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
Buy it now for $149.95, and we'll fly it again--FOR FREE--during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. The students will be launching multiple balloons from the path of totality in Texas. Your pendant will go along for the ride, touching the shadow of the Moon at the edge of space. (Simply type "FLY IT AGAIN" in the comments box at checkout.)
The locket, which opens to hold a personal photo or other small item, comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space.
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