SOLAR RADIATION STORM IN PROGRESS: Solar protons are raining down on Earth today following an unexpected explosion behind the sun's western limb. This solar radiation storm currently registers category S1 (Minor), but it will probably intensify in the hours ahead to S2 (Moderate) based on current trends. Stay tuned. Radiation storm alerts: SMS Text
TRIMETHYL ALUMINUM TWISTERS: This is not what Geir Svendsen expected to see on Nov. 16th when he went outside in Lofoten, Norway, to hunt for auroras. High above the mountains were glowing twisters of trimethyl aluminum (TMA):
"These appeared right after a rocket launch from the Andoya Space Center," explains Svendsen.
The NASA rocket carried 16 canisters of trimethyl aluminum, which were released into the upper atmosphere to trace "hurricane-like swirls" ~100 km above Earth's surface. Measuring tens of kilometers in diameter, these high-altitude vortices are a poorly understood phenomenon. Researchers from Clemson University will use video footage from the rocket mission (called "VortEx") to test competing models of their formation.
NASA says the TMA vapors released by their rockets are "not harmful to people or life on the ground." This may be technically true, but only because people on the ground are so far away from the vapors. TMA is highly flammable, corrosive, and reacts violently with water. One of the chemical by-products of its luminous reaction with air is aluminum oxide, a compound implicated in ozone depletion. Small amounts released by sounding rockets probably do little harm, but it all adds up. What NASA should say: "Mostly harmless."
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
BLACK FRIDAY AT THE EDGE OF SPACE: Christmas is coming. Are you looking for a far-out gift? Check out the Earth to Sky Store. It's filled with unique items that have flown to the edge of space onboard cosmic ray research balloons.
Carried aloft by giant helium balloons, these unique gifts have flown above 99.7% of Earth's atmosphere, experiencing space-like blasts of cosmic rays, extreme cold, and a wild ride parachuting back to Earth after the balloon explodes. Even Amazon doesn't carry items this far out.
Don't forget to enter coupon code "HANDOFAPOLLO" at checkout for a 10% Early Black Friday discount.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter