SpaceWeather.com Archive — Tue, Sep 10, 2024

« backTue, Sep 10, 2024forward »

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G1): NOAA forecasters say that a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm is possible later today when a CME is expected to graze Earth's magnetic field. It was hurled toward us by a dark plasma eruption on Sept. 8th. During minor G1 storms, auroras may be seen with the naked-eye in northern-tier US states and photographed by smartphones with nighttime settings. CME impact alerts: SMS Tex t

ANOTHER EARTH-DIRECTED EXPLOSION: Sunspot AR3814 has a mixed-polarity magnetic field that makes it a threat for strong flares. This morning, it exploded while directly facing Earth:

The ultraviolet flash (category M1.2) ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere and caused a brief shortwave radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean. Mariners and ham radio operators may have noticed loss of signal at frequencies below 20 MHz between 00:15 and 01:00 UT.

Of greater interest is the CME. SOHO coronagraphs detected a full halo CME moving directly toward Earth. A NASA model suggests it will reach our planet during the late hours of Sept. 12th. The impact could cause a G2-class geomagnetic storm. Stay tuned for updates. Aurora alerts: SMS Tex t

Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter

POLARIS DAWN LAUNCH: SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission took flight this morning when a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off frpm Cape Canaveral 5:23 a.m. EDT. Conrad Pope watched the rocket roar into space from Wilmington, NC:

"I wasn’t sure it was going to launch due to weather in Florida," says Pope. "But when it did, it was spectacular!"

Polaris Dawn is a risky trek into Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts by four civilians led by Jared Isaacman, the billionaire founder of financial firm Shift4 Payments. Two SpaceX engineers (Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis) and one of Isaacman's best friends (US Air Force pilot Scott Poteet) round out the crew.

A highlight of the mission will be their attempt to perform a spacewalk. There is no airlock, so opening the door of the Crew Dragon capsule will expose all four crew members and the Crew Dragon’s interior to the vacuum of space. Differences in pressure may make it difficult to relock the vehicle’s hatch. Stay tuned!

more images: from Randall Gacek of Fairfax, Virginia

Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter

"HAND OF APOLLO" STAR TREK CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT: You can't buy this on Amazon. The Hand of Apollo Christmas Ornament is only available from the Earth to Sky Store. On Aug. 15, 2024, it flew to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:

You can have it for $127.95. This ornament depicts the iconic opening scene from original Star Trek series episode "Who Mourns for Adonais?" first aired in 1967. Near the planet Pollux III, the Enterprise was held immobile by an energy field shaped as a human hand. It belonged to a being claiming to be the Greek god Apollo. This will look far out on your Christmas tree this December.

The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space ornaments to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Don't wait for Christmas--get yours now!