THE DANGER HAS NOT PASSED: Yesterday's severe geomagnetic storm is over, but the calm might not last. Giant shape-shifting sunspot AR3615 poses a continued threat for Earth-directed solar flares. NOAA forecasters say there is a 25% chance of X-flares today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. If the sunspot blows, it would give sky watchers in Europe and the USA a second chance at auroras this week. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM--THE STRONGEST IN YEARS: As predicted, a CME struck Earth's magnetic field on March 24th (1437 UT). The impact opened a crack in our planet's magnetosphere and sparked a severe G4-class geomagnetic storm--the strongest geomagnetic storm since Sept. 2017.
The timing of the CME did *not* favor observers in Europe or the United States. Instead, New Zealand got the light show:
"I woke up early and, when I saw that a storm was underway, jumped out of bed and raced to my favourite viewing spot at Hoopers Inlet (latitude +46 S)," says photographer Ian Griffin. "The beautiful aurora australis was easily visible despite clouds and bright moonlight."
In England, it was broad daylight when the CME struck. Auroras could not be seen. Nevertheless, Stuart Green of Preston, England detected the storm using his backyard magnetometer:
"My magnetometer kicked into life mid-afternoon here in the UK," says Green. "The arrival of the CME created a severe disturbance."
The squiggles in Green's chart represent changes in ground-level magnetic fields caused by the CME. "The sensor is buried in my garden about 0.5 meters below the surface in an East/West orientation," he explains. "This allows very sensitive (sub nanotesla) measurements of magnetic declination during geomagnetic storms."
Green built his own magnetometer from scratch. Would you like to do the same? Here's how.
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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
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