STRONG EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARES: Fast-growing sunspot 3981 is directly facing Earth and crackling with strong solar flares. An M8.8-class explosion on Feb 3rd (0358 UT) was only percentage points below category X. So far none of the flares has hurled a significant CME toward Earth. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
THE SCALE OF A GIANT SUNSPOT COMPLEX: "Giant" is the right word. Sunspot complex 3976-82 contains more than 3 dozen dark cores scattered across more than 500,000 km of the sun's surface. David Strange of East Devon UK wrapped a ruler around the sun to illustrate the awesome scale of the active region:
Strange took the picture earlier today using an H-alpha telescope tuned to the red glow of solar hydrogen. It shows an area of magnetic turmoil twice as wide as the planet Jupiter, so large that Earth itself is a speck in comparison. Super flare-y sunspot 3981 is just one of five sunspot groups contained within its boundary.
As the sun slowly turns, parts of this complex will remain Earth-directed for the rest of the week. Any significant explosions will therefore be geoeffective. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
COMET ATLAS AND THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS: Over the weekend, a solar wind stream buffeted Earth's magnetic field, sparking auroras in the southern hemisphere. Mike White photographed Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) gliding through the light show over Twizel, New Zealand:
"The comet remnants continue to be visible to the naked eye - even through the Southern Lights!" says White. "I estimated the brightness to be a little dimmer than the Small Magellanic Cloud with a visible tail length of approx 4°."
This scene could be repeated later this week if newly-active sunspot AR3981 hurls a CME toward Earth. It might already have done so. Stay tuned for updates. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
more images: from Chris Picking of Owhiro Bay, Wellington, New Zealand; from George Ionas of Himatangi Beach, New Zealand
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
24K SPACE ROSE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY: On Jan. 24, 2025, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a cosmic ray balloon to the stratosphere. This 24K Space Rose went along for the ride:
You can have it for $127.75. At the apex of the flight, the gold-dipped and gilded bloom was 115,823 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California, touching the edge of space. It comes with a greeting card showing the flower in flight, and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
SUNI WILLIAMS ON THE CANADARM: When you've been on the ISS as long as Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, unlikely things are bound to happen. On Jan. 30th, the stranded astronauts were walking outside the space station when they flew directly over a small telescope in Oxford, UK. Amateur astronomer Charline Giroud used it to take this picture:
"Suni Williams can be seen at the end of the robotic arm, while Butch Wilmore was working next to the Quest airlock platform in the shadow of the station, making him unfortunately not visible in the picture," says Giroud. "On this day, Suni set a new record for time spent spacewalking, now she's also the first female astronaut to be photographed from the ground during an EVA. Congratulations, Suni!"
"I was very lucky to capture this event under clear skies with my telescope from my hometown," adds Giroud. "It was a fantastic moment."
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Comet ATLAS Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter