GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G3): Fast-growing sunspot AR3842 erupted on Oct 1st (2220 UT), producing the second-strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25. The X7.1-category blast caused a shortwave radio blackout over Hawaii and hurled a faint halo CME into space. NOAA forecasters are predicting a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm when the CME arrives as early as Oct. 4th. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
A COMET OVER EASTER ISLAND: Retired biologist Eliot Herman is in the South Pacific today, hoping to see a solar eclipse. The day began, instead, with a comet. "I am at Easter Island where we saw amazing Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) with the Moai (monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people of eastern Polynesia) in the foreground."
"It was a wonderful view in the twilight of pre-dawn where perhaps 1000 years ago the natives of this island also saw bright comets rising over their Moai," he says.
For the past week, astronomers around the world have been photographing Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in the early morning sky. Soon, mornings will no longer be an option. The comet is sinking back toward the sun as it transitions to the evening sky next week. On Oct. 9th and 10th, the comet will pass between Earth and the sun. Sunlight forward scattered by comet dust could amplify the comet's brightness, making it visible even in broad daylight. Stay tuned!
more images: from Frank A. Rodriguez of Gran Canaria island, Canary Islands; from Alan Dyer of Monument Valley, Arizona ; from Malcolm Park of Magdalena New Mexico; from Fabrizio Melandri of Perito Moreno, Argentina; from Luke O'Brien of Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania;
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A SOLAR ECLIPSE OVER EASTER ISLAND: Hours after Eliot Herman saw Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) over Easter Island, he saw an annular solar eclipse:
"We dodged lots of clouds, but everyone on Easter Island saw the eclipse," says Herman. "Being a long eclipse with a small Moon, it did not get very dark, but the view through my Questar telescope was great."
Annular eclipses occur when the Moon is a little too small to cover the entire sun. All around the circumference of the Moon, the sun peeks out from behind lunar craters and mountain ranges, producing a ring-of-fire effect.
Only 175,000 people were in the 'path of annularity.' Were you one of them? Submit your photos here.
more images: from Joerg Schoppmeyer of Hanga Roa, Easter Island; from Paul D. Maley of Hangaroa, Easter Island; from Noah Stern of Haiku, Hawaii
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STRATOSPHERE CRYSTAL SUNFLOWER: This sunflower has touched space. The crystal blossom flew to the stratosphere on Feb. 22nd onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon, floating 112,451 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $139.95. The students are selling Stratosphere Sunflowers to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. They make great Christmas, anniversary, and birthday gifts. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the flower in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space.
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All sales support hands-on STEM education
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