BIG SUNSPOT ALERT: A big new sunspot is emerging over the sun's northeastern limb, right here. The topology of its magnetic field is not yet visible, so we cannot assess its potential for solar flares. However, big sunspots often produce big flares, so stay tuned. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
A SOLAR ECLIPSE IN SPACE: Yesterday, the Moon eclipsed the sun. No one on Earth saw it. The "lunar transit" was only visible from space. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) recorded the whole thing from geosynchronous orbit:
At maximum, 23% of the sun was covered. That makes it a partial eclipse. Every year, SDO observes multiple lunar transits. An eclipse on July 25th will be much deeper: 62%. SDO is solar powered, but it won't "brown out" in May because mission contollers will give the spacecraft's batteries an extra charge before the eclipse.
Bonus: You can see lunar mountains in these images. Zoom in to the edge of the Moon:
This high-res photo is valuable to the SDO science team. Undulations in the sharp edge of the Moon help researchers measure how light diffracts around the telescope's optics and filter support grids. Once these are calibrated, it is possible to correct SDO data for instrumental effects and sharpen the images even more than before.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
TOMATO SEEDS FROM SPACE: Spring has arrived, which means it's time to plant your space garden. These tomato seeds have flown to the edge of space onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray research balloon:
By popular demand, we flew a new batch of tomato seeds on April 20, 2025.
You can have a full packet for $49.95. Space seeds make a great DIY science project. During the flight, they spent more than 3 hours floating through the stratosphere, exposed to temperatures as low as -62 C and cosmic ray fluxes 100x Earth-normal. Each space-flown packet comes with an identical control packet, which remained on Earth during the flight. Plant them side by side to discover the difference space travel makes.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter