SOUTH POLE RADIO BLACKOUT: For the 7th day in a row, energetic protons from the sun are raining down on Earth. It's an almost S1-class radiation storm, resulting from the collective action of three X-class solar flares since Oct. 24th. These protons are causing a shortwave radio blackout inside the Antarctic Circle:
The red zones show where shortwave radio transmissions are strongly damped by atmospheric ionization. Why south? Because it's spring in the southern hemisphere, The South Pole is tipped toward the sun and intercepting more solar protons. Almost all of Antarctica is therefore under blackout conditions.
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DON'T FORGET COMET TSUCHINSHAN-ATLAS: Take a look at this light curve. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) has faded below magnitude +6; it's now invisible to the naked-eye. Nevertheless, "the comet is still spectacular," reports Chris Schur, who sends this picture from Happy Jack, Arizona:
"The comet is gorgeous in binoculars," says Schur. "This image is a one hour exposure through my 8-inch telescope. Note the cyan rim on the front of the coma and the rays in the tail near the head."
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is currently in the constellation Ophiuchus, where it just passed Barnard's star. Point your optics here. You might be pleasantly surprised.
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THE GEOMAGNETIC MOONCAT: This cat has experienced a geomagnetic storm. Multiple CMEs hit Earth's magnetic field during the weekend of August 10-11. Students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a cosmic ray balloon into the resulting severe geomagnetic storm. The Geomagnetic Mooncat went along for the ride:
You can have it for $199.95. Supported by a sterling silver frame, the black cat is curled around a genuine blue moonstone. It floated through the stratosphere for almost 3 hours during the storm, gathering radiation data for the students' monitoring program. The Mooncat comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and explaining the radiation experiment.
The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space jewelry 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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