A HOLE IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE: A large hole has opened in the sun's atmosphere, and it is directly facing Earth. An emerging stream of solar wind should reach our planet on March 9-10. NOAA forecasters say its arrival could spark a G1-class geomagnetic storm with auroras at high latitudes. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
SIGHTINGS OF THE 'LUNAR X': Have you seen the Lunar X? Once a month, when the sun rises over Crater Werner in the Moon's southern hemisphere, sunlight grazes the region's high terrain and makes a criss-cross shape 50 miles wide. Levi Riggins photographed it last night from Leander, Texas:
"I've been watching and imaging the moon for many years- yet somehow, I didn't even know about the 'Lunar X' until seeing the story on Spaceweather yesterday," says Riggins. "Thanks!" (You're welcome :)
Many astronomers have never heard of it. This pareidoliac form of lunar alpenglow lasts for only a few hours each month at the narrow interface between lunar night and day. The next apparition: April 5th. Mark your calendar with an "X".
more images: from Paul Sellner of Fort Collins, Colorado; from John H. Menz of Nonington, Kent, England; from Dominique Steuckers of Holsbeek, Belgium; from David Kriegler of Gulf Shores, Alabama
Realtime Lunar X Photo Gallery
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THE GALACTIC CENTER PENDANT: "A timeless pull, no force can splinter. Our love burns bright at the galactic center." This poem is printed on a card that comes with the Galactic Center Pendant. Made of handcrafted glass, the pendent flew to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon, floating 96,785 feet above Earth's surface:
You can have it for $169.95. At the pendant's core is a nugget of blue opal surrounded by a swirl of air-bubble stars. It comes with a greeting card picturing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space and back--poetry included!
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
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Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
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Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
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