BIG FARSIDE SUNSPOT: Sunspot AR3615, last seen in March crackling with X-flares, is now transiting the farside of the sun. The sunspot is so big, it is affecting the way the sun vibrates, allowing researchers to detect its seismic echo. Also, NASA's rover Perseverance can see the sunspot all the way from Mars. This large active region will return to the Earthside of the sun about a week from now. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
THE STRANGE CHILL OF THE MOON'S SHADOW: A 100-mile wide shaft of cool air is about to race through Earth's atmosphere faster than 1500 mph. It's the shadow of the Moon created by Monday's total eclipse of the sun. This animation shows the progress of darkness across the United States:
Animation credit: GreatAmericanEclipse.com
Solar eclipses make their own weather--starting with the temperature. How much the temperature falls depends on the humidity. Dry environments could see a drop of 8 to 14 degrees, less so if it’s humid. According to NASA, an eclipse in Zambia on June 21, 2001, reduced the temperature nearly 15 degrees.
The reduction in temperature can make clouds disappear. Satellites observing eclipses from Earth orbit have detected many examples. A 10-year study just published in Nature found that cumulus clouds begin dissipating when a mere 15 percent of the sun is covered. In some cases, clouds didn’t start to return until 50 minutes after maximum eclipse.
This could be good news for eclipse chasers in Mexico and Texas, where widespread cloudcover is expected on April 8th. The eclipse itself might help clear the sky. Stay tuned!
More: Why a Cloudy Forecast Doesn't Mean Your Eclipse is Ruined -- from CNN
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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
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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