X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Earth-orbiting satellites detected an X2-class solar flare on Feb. 23rd (1927 UTC). The source was just behind the sun's northwestern limb--a location that will not allow it to send a CME toward Earth. However, a pulse of extreme UV radiation did cause a shortwave radio blackout over the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
GRAVITATIONAL LENS STEREOSCOPY: In recent years, some astronomers have wondered if images of gravitationally lensed galaxies could be combined as stereo pairs, allowing a 3D view of star systems billions of light years away. The technique is called "gravitational lens stereoscopy." German stereoscopist Hanno Falk just tried it with JWST images of the famous question mark galaxy in Eridanus, and here is the result:
"I combined two lensed images of the same galaxy to create a pair of 3D-cross-eyed pictures," explains Falk.
To make this work, click on the full-sized image. Stare at the two side-by-side frames, slowly crossing your eyes until they merge. The shape of the galaxy should pop out of the screen.
For readers whose eyes won't cross, Falk created this blink comparison that captures some of the same effect:
This galaxy went viral in 2023 when Hubble images captured what appeared to be a cosmic question mark. A closer look by the JWST revealed it to be a pair of interacting galaxies--one stripping plumes of gas and stars from the other. In addition, these galaxies are lensed by an intervening cluster of galaxies, MACS-J0417.5-1154, which acts like a magnifying glass because the cluster is so massive it warps the fabric of space-time. JWST has detected at least 4 copies of the question mark scattered around the lensing cluster. Falk combined the two most prominent copies to create the stereo pair.
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SPACEX LAUNCH SEEN FROM ARIZONA: It's only February, but SpaceX has already launched 23 Falcon 9 rockets in 2025. The latest left Earth on Feb. 22nd from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. "It was visible all the way from Flagstaff," reports Dave Blanchard, who photographed the rocket's exhaust twisting in the Arizona twilight:
Before he saw the exhaust, Blanchard also saw the rocket itself. "I captured both the first and second stage in a single image," he says.
The rocket's 2nd stage delivered 22 new Starlink satellites to Earth orbit, bringing the total number of Starlinks launched so far in 2025 to 386. Here's a bit of eye-opening context: When the Space Age began, it took the nations of Earth competing feverishly almost 6 years to launch 386 satellites. SpaceX just did it in less than 2 months.
Did you see the launch? Submit your photos here.
more images: from Nesib Ali of San Bernardino, California
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THE MILKY WAY IN A CRYSTAL BALL: Are you looking for a big gift? How about the entire Milky Way? The students of Earth to Sky Calculus have launched our own galaxy to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. Here it is 113,517 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:
You can have it for $119.95. The galaxy is laser etched inside a 60 mm crystal sphere. You can turn it in your hands, inspecting the spiral star system from any angle. The gift-boxed sphere comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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