THIS COULD BE A FLARE-Y WEEKEND: Yesterday's M7.4-class solar flare could be the opening salvo of a flare-y weekend. Three sunspots (3959, 3961, 3964) facing Earth have unstable magnetic fields. NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of M-class flares and a 30% chance of X-flares on Jan. 18th. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
VENUS-SATURN CONJUNCTION: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look southwest. Venus and Saturn are having a close encounter in the twilight sky. Senol Sanli photographed the conjunction from Kırazlı-Bursa - Turkey:
The two planets are about two degrees apart, about the width of a human thumb held at arm's length. Venus appears first, long before the sky fades to black, followed by Saturn, which is considerably dimmer. If you have a small telescope, toggle the optics between the two planets. You can see the rings of Saturn and the half phase of Venus in quick succession. Sky maps: Jan. 18, 19.
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BUSY SUNSET: Sunsets are busier than they used to be. Solar Maximum is peppering the solar disk with dark spots--and that's not all:
This picture of yesterday's sunset shows plenty of activity both on the solar disk and in our planet's atmosphere," says Maximilian-Vlad Teodorescu of the Institute of Space Science in Romania. "There are sunspots, (some large some small), planes, birds, and the ripple effect of the different density layers in the distant air."
The sunspot number has increased even more since yesterday, which means tonight's sunset will be busy, too. Submit your photos here.
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"ALWAYS AND FOREVER" RUBY HEART PENDANT: Are you looking for a far out Valentine's Day gift? Consider the Always and Forever Space Pendent. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $219.95. Engraved with the words "I love you always and forever", this sterling silver pendant has a heart-shaped ruby crystal in the middle surrouunded by a ring of glittering 5A cubic zirconia nuggets. It is a visually striking necklace perfect for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or romantic birthdays.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
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