QUIET WITH A CHANCE OF FLARES: Solar activity has been low for the past 24 hours. The calm might not last. Sunspot AR3889 has an unstable delta-class magnetic field that poses a threat for significant explosions. NOAA forecasters estimate a 25% chance of X-flares on Nov. 13th. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
TRIMETHYL ALUMINUM CLOUDS OVER NORWAY: They're completely harmless, says NASA. Twisting clouds of trimethyl aluminum (TMA) appeared over Norway on Nov. 10th during a minor geomagnetic storm. Ivar Sandland photographed them from Narvik, a small town inside the Arctic Circle:
Moments earlier, Sandland watched a rocket climb through colorful auroras. "It was a rocket launch from Andoya Space center in northern Norway," he explains. "Moments later, the clouds appeared."
The NASA rocket carried 16 canisters of trimethyl aluminum, which were released into the upper atmosphere. Glowing clouds were visible from the ground, allowing researchers to study waves and vortices in air ~100 km above Earth's surface, a region which also contains the turbopause. This is fundamental research that may help improve computer models of our planet's atmosphere.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
JABBA THE HUTT SPACE MUG: Want a cup of coffee with one of the Galaxy's most powerful gansters? The Jabba the Hutt Space Mug is for you! On Nov. 10, 2024, it flew to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $99.95. This extra large ceramic mug holds 26 oz. of piping hot coffee. It's also a great soup bowl. At the apex of the flight, the cup floated 107,773 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains while sensors inside the balloon's payload gathered radiation data for a student science project.
The cup comes with a greeting card showing Jabba in flight, and certifying that the cup traveled to the edge of space and back again. Get yours now!
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
RUSH HOUR SATELLITE TRAFFIC: There are now more than 10,000 active satellites in Earth orbit. Dan Bush of Albany, Missouri, photographed dozens of them during "satellite rush hour" on Nov. 12th:
"I've posted several videos on YouTube recently showing the crowded skies full of satellites as filmed by the Missouri Skies automated meteor cameras," says Bush. "This is a star trail image shot with a DSLR showing the busy traffic along my predawn eastern horizon."
In this long exposure, the stars are trailing from lower left to upper right. Almost everything else is a satellite. "A group of recently launched Starlink satellites can be seen forming the multiple (20+) parallel lines at center," notes Bush.
No wonder the International Astronomical Union has set up a center for the protection of dark skies from satellites. It's a real problem--and it's going to get worse.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter