GEOMAGNETIC STORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY: NOAA forecasters say that minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible today, May 2nd, as a fast-moving stream of solar wind buffets Earth's magnetic field. There is a slight chance the storm could escalate to category G2. If so, auroras would be visible after nightfall in northern-tier US states. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
A GIANT RING OF ELLERMAN BOMBS: Astronomers are monitoring the largest sunspot of 2025. Sunspot 4079 stretches more than 140,000 km from end to end and has two dark cores each large enough to swallow Earth. These dimensions make it an easy target for backyard solar telescopes. French amateur astronomer Philippe Tosi took a look and found a giant ring of Ellerman Bombs:
A handful of Ellerman bombs are circled for reference. The complete ring contains more than 100.
Ellerman bombs are magnetic explosions about one-millionth as powerful as a true solar flare. They look like pinpoints of light, flickering on and off in the sun's atmosphere. Named after physicist Ferdinand Ellerman who studied them in the early 20th century, a single Ellerman bomb releases about 1026 ergs of energy--equal to ~100,000 World War II atomic bombs. Tosi's photo captured about 100 of these bombs going off all at once.
Ellerman bombs are a sign of magnetic complexity in a sunspot. Opposite polarities bump together, reconnect, and--boom! A full-fledged flare may not be far behind. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
Bonus: Something else is happening to this large sunspot. Its primary dark cores are slowly revolving like they're in mutual orbit. This 3-day movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the phenomenon:
We don't know if they will complete a full revolution. However, these motions may be twisting the magnetic underpinnings of the sunspot group, creating a tension that makes solar flares more likely.
more images: from Chris Schur of Payson, Arizona; from Alessandro Gambaro of Castano Primo (MI) - Italy; from Mariano Ribas of Buenos Aires, Argentina; from Efrain Morales of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico;
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
BLACK MOONCAT EARRINGS: For the first time ever, earrings have flown to the edge of space. On April 20, 2025, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a cosmic ray research balloon, and these Black Mooncat Earrings went along for the ride:
You can have a pair for $149.95. Supported by a sterling silver frame, each black cat is curled around a genuine blue moonstone. The earrings floated through the stratosphere for almost 3 hours, reaching a peak altitude of 110,555 feet. They're the perfect companion for the Geomagnetic Black Cat Pendant.
Each pair of earrings comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of their trip to the stratosphere and back.
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