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 was only percentage points below category X. NOAA forecasters estimate an 85% chance of M-class flares and a 20% chance of full-fledged X-flares on Feb. 4th. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
GULF OF MEXICO MIRAGE: Last night's sunset in the Gulf of Mexico was weird. "The sun went through a marine layer, which gave it some spectacular shapes," explains David Kriegler, who photographed the phenomenon from Gulf Shores, Alabama:
Researchers call this a "mock mirage." It's caused by temperature inversions in the atmosphere over the Gulf. Alternating blankets of warm and cold air form atmospheric ducts. These ducts slice the sun into a layer-cake of images which, when stacked, can create the strange shapes Kriegler observed.
Now is a good time for Gulf of Mexico sunsets to shapeshift. A mixture of sun-warmed water and cold winter air sets the stage for strong mock mirages. if you see one, submit your photos here.
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THERE'S A COMET IN MY CHIMNEY: Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) reminds many observers of Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1), another sungrazer which wowed southern sky watchers in 2007. Ian Cooper of Glen Oroua, New Zealand, caught both of the famous comets in his chimney:
"Comet ATLAS has been like a smaller, fainter version of its predecessor from 18 years ago, Comet McNaught," says Cooper. "The timing and positioning have been very close between the two. Last night, Comet ATLAS produced a déjà vu moment for me. Just when I was having trouble finding the comet, there it was, stuck in my chimney, just like McNaught all those years ago!"
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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.
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