GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G1): Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on Oct. 16th due to a CME now en route to Earth. It was launched from sunspot AR3854 on Oct. 11th, and is expected to deliver only a glancing blow. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
THE 'ANTI-TAIL' OF COMET TSUCHINSHAN-ATLAS: Comet tails are supposed to point away from the sun. Last night, Nick James of the British Astronomical Association photographed a tail pointing in the opposite direction. "The 'anti-tail' looked amazing in this image of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS I took from 2100m on La Palma," says James:
When James took the picture, Earth was passing through the orbital plane of the comet, and that's what made the anti-tail. The sharp edge of Tsuchinshan-ATLAS's fan-shaped dust tail briefly appeared to point toward the sun--a counterintuitive optical illusion.
The anti-tail will fade in the days ahead, even as the comet itself remains a gorgeous sight in the evening sky. Look west about 40 minutes after local sunset. The comet is easy to find using binoculars and, then, once found, is equally easy to see with the unaided eye. The comet's long tail (the real tail) stretches more than 10 degrees above the western horizon, remaining visible in the moonlight for as much as an hour after the head of the comet sets. Enjoy the view!
more anti-tail images: from Johnny Horne of White Oak, NC; from Schindler Leung of Hong Kong; from Alan Dyer of Arches National Park, Utah; from Eliot Herman of Tucson Arizona; from Brian Klimowski near Flagstaff, Arizona; from Michael Jaeger of Hochart, Austria
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SPACEMAN SNOOPY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT: You can't buy this on Amazon. The Spaceman Snoopy Christmas Ornament is only available from the Earth to Sky Store. On Oct. 11, 2024, it flew to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $99.95. This ornament depicts Snoopy's historic meeting with Martian Woodstock, proving once and for all that we are not alone! Created by Hallmark, this rare keepsake floated in the stratosphere for 3 hours while radiation sensors inside the payload gathered data for a STEM radiation monitoring project.
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!
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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