QUIET WEEKEND: The sun is peppered with at least 9 sunspot groups. However, they are all stable and quiet. Strong solar flares are not expected this weekend. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
HALO CME TARGETS MERCURY: Yesterday, a full halo CME billowed away from the far side of the sun, and it's heading straight for Mercury. Click to set the scene in motion:
According to a NASA model, the CME will reach Mercury on May 24th. Its impact will pepper Mercury with high energy electrons, igniting X-ray auroras at ground level on the planet's rocky surface. You do not want to be on Mercury during a solar storm!
The storm will also engulf BepiColombo, a joint European-Japanese spacecraft on a seven year mission to explore Mercury. It's actually two spacecraft: The Mercury Planetary Orbiter, built in Europe, and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter, built in Japan. The two halves will split up in 2026 to survey Mercury's surface and magnetic field from separate orbits.
BepiColombo is built to withstand Mercury's harsh space weather, so this halo CME will not damage it.
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THE REDSHIFT PENDANT: Give a gift that’s truly out of this world. The Redshift Pendant has journeyed to the edge of space, lifted 104,002 ft above our planet by an Earth to Sky cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $179.95. The premium Swarovski crystal has a deep ruby hue inspired by the expansion of the Universe--or "redshift" in the love language of astronomy. It is surrounded by a dozen glittering 5A cubic zirconia nuggets in a frame plated with hypoallergenic 18k rose gold. Also, it comes with a photo of the pendant in space for a truly unforgettable presentation.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each pendant comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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