PROTONS ARE RAINING DOWN ON EARTH: An S1-class solar radiation storm is in progress on Jan. 5th. This means energetic protons from the sun are raining down on Earth. Their ionizing effect on the atmosphere is causing a polar cap absorption event (PCA). Shortwave radios inside the Arctic and Antarctic Circles won't work as well as usual until the PCA subsides. Solar radiation storm alerts: SMS Text.
THE SUN IS X-FLARING: Sunspot AR3947 is sizzling with activity. Since Friday it has produced three X-class solar flares and multiple strong M-flares. NOAA's GOES-16 satellite recorded the extreme ultraviolet and X-ray flashes:
Each flare has produced a shortwave radio blackout on Earth. Almost all longitudes of our planet have experienced intermittent loss of signal below 20 MHz during local daylight hours. Because of these flares, long-distance propagation has been unreliable.
Remarkably, no significant CMEs have emerged. These explosions have not lifted much material out of the sun's atmosphere. Future blasts may behave differently, however, and the activity shows no sign of abating as the sunspot turns toward Earth. Stay tuned! Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
more images: from Andy Devey of Mojacar, Spain; from Pepe Manteca of Begues, Catalonia, Spain
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LUNAR OCCULTATION OF SATURN: For the second night in a row, Europeans witnessed a close encounter between the crescent Moon and a bright planet. On Friday, it was Venus. On Saturday, it was Saturn:
"I video-recorded Saturn's egress from behind the Moon," says Maximilian-Vlad Teodorescu of the Institute of Space Science in Romania. "It was beautiful despite their low altitude and poor seeing conditions."
more images: from Alan C Tough of Elgin, Moray, Scotland, UK; from Peter Rosén of Stockholm, Sweden; from Giovanni Soligo of Formia (LT), Italy; from Roberto De Lorenzo of Ostuni, Apulia, Italy; from Michel Benvenuto of Rome, Italy
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GIFTS FROM THE EDGE OF SPACE: A New Year of balloon launches is beginning, and we need to buy helium! You can help by puchasing a gift from the Earth to Sky Store. It's filled with unique items that have flown to the edge of space onboard cosmic ray research 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 "SOLARMAX2025" at checkout for a 15% holiday discount. All profits support STEM space weather research.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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