SpaceWeather.com Archive — Wed, Sep 18, 2024

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THE STORM IS OVER: Earth's magnetic field is still reverberating from a CME impact on Sept. 16th. However, the severe (G4-class) geomagnetic storm it caused is over. During the storm, auroras swept across the United States as far south as Missouri, Colorado and Arizona. Aurora alerts: SMS Tex t

"Just after 11 pm. on Sept. 16th, brilliant aurora bands played their song over a calm lake near Cantwell, Alaska," says photographer Todd Salat.

"A nearly full Moon tuned up the rich foliage," says Salat. "I love aurora hunting at this time of year for exactly this kind of experience, to watch nature play its beautiful September song."

Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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PARTIAL ECLIPSE OF THE HARVEST MOON: According to folklore, last night's full Moon was a "Harvest Moon"--the full Moon closest to the northern autumnal equinox. Sky watchers from the Americas to Europe witnessed a rare Harvest Moon eclipse. Chris Cook photographed the event from Long Beach, California:

The dark zone at the top of Cook's photo is the eclipse. The Moon grazed the shadow of our planet, blacking out 8% of the lunar disk. "The golden colored Harvest Moon was low in the eastern sky at mid eclipse," says Cook. "It was beautiful."

We've received images of this eclipse from 5 continents. Browse the eclipse photo gallery for the latest!

Realtime Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery
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"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!