CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A CME: A CME appears to have passed near Earth on April 12th, perhaps even delivering a glancing blow. The subtle close encounter did not immediately cause a geomagnetic storm, but the storm watch is still in effect. Minor G1-class storms are possible on April 13th as Earth passes through the CME's magnetized wake. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SUNSPOT: Sunspot 4055 is seething with activity, producing at least 8 M-class solar flares during the past 24 hours alone. On April 12th, David Wilson of Inverness, Scotland, recorded hot plasma currents surging around the sunspot's magnetic canopy:
"I always check Spaceweather before I start my captures, and today it said AR4055 had flaring potential, so I followed their advice and caught this video," says Wilson. "I used my homemade solar telescope to observe the sunspot for nearly two hours."
This sunspot is potentially dangerous for two reasons: (1) It has a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. (2) It is moving toward the sun's western limb where it will connect itself to Earth via the magnetic Parker spiral. Any eruptions in the next few days could accelerate a hailstorm of energetic protons toward our planet. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
more images: from Thomas Jorgenson of Neenah, WI
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ROSE GOLD MOONSTONE PENDANT: This moonstone has touched space. On April 9, 2024, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched the Rose Gold Moonstone Pendant to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. For almost two hours it floated 102,800 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California:
You can have it for $172.95. The heart-shaped moonstone is wrapped in a sterling silver frame decorated with 18K rose gold-plated roses. It makes a great anniversary or birthday gift and comes with a greeting card showing the mooonstone in flight. All sales support the student's cosmic ray research program.
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All sales support hands-on STEM education
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