EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARES: Active sunspot AR3654 is crackling with M-class solar flares. The Earth-directed eruptions are causing shortwave radio blackouts at frequencies below 20 MHz. The most recent flare, an M3-class event on April 29th at 0111 UT, wiped out shortwave transmissions throughout much of the Pacific Ocean. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
ICE CRYSTALS CREATE A 'HOLE IN THE SKY': Last week, Andreas Kohlmann of Samnaun, Switzerland, looked up and saw a 22° sun halo caused by ice crystals floating over the snowy landscape. His iPhone11 photo of the phenomenon captured something sky watchers often overlook--the 'hole in the sky' effect:
The sky inside the halo is darker than the sky outside, creating a large but subtle disk of partial darkness around the sun. It exists because the ice crystals scatter light at least 22° away from the sun. "No light is refracted through smaller angles, so the area inside the halo is dark," explains retired atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley.
"Most rays are deflected through angles near to 22° to form the bright inner edge of the halo," he continues. "Red light is refracted less strongly than other colors, so the halo's inner edge is red hued."
The 22° sun halo is the most common of all sun halos. The next time you see one, put on sunglasses to reduce the glare. You may see your own 'hole in the sky.'
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
TAHITIAN BLACK SOLAR ECLIPSE PEARL: It came from Tahiti, and now it has touched the shadow of the Moon. On April 8, 2024, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this black pearl into a total eclipse of the sun over Texas. Riding on a cosmic ray research balloon, the pearl was 86,564 feet high when lunar darkness swallowed it for 3 minutes 45 seconds:
You can have it for $299.95. Measuring 9 mm in diameter, this genuine Tahitian pearl has an 18K rose gold clasp and is suspended from a matching 925 Sterling Silver chain. It comes with a greeting card showing the pearl in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space during the 2024 total eclipse.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter