DAY #3 OF THE GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Earth's magnetic field is still reverberating from the June 1st impact of a fast halo CME. The severe (G4) geomagnetic storm that occured just after the CME arrived has subsided, but lesser storms (G1/G2) are still underway on June 3rd. High latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
Last night in Glenwood, Washington, Samuel Oas watched the show from the back of a Tacoma:
"I almost threw in the towel after waiting under cold and quiet skies for an hour and a half, but then the auroras erupted," says Oas. "There were continuous pillars and occasional curtains for the next hour. Patience pays off!"
The storm has continued with few breaks for more than 60 hours--a testament to the power and effectiveness of the CME. This may go down as one of the biggest events of Solar Cycle 25.
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
THIS IS *REAL* MONEY FROM SPACE: The US Mint has just released a new $1 coin to honor NASA's longest-serving spacecraft: The Space Shuttle. On May 25, 2025, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched the coins to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have a single coin for $49.95 or an entire unbroken roll for $299.95. No longer available from the US Mint, these rare coins flew 119,343 feet above the Sierra Nevada on July 16, 2024. One side shows the space shuttle lifting off from Launch Complex 39 at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center; the other side features the Statue of Liberty in profile.
For collectors: The P mint version of these coins is also available: Get the single coin ($49.95) or an entire unbroken roll ($299.95).
The students are selling space coins to support to support their cosmic ray research program. (Helium is expensive!) Each order comes with a greeting card showing the coins in flight and telling the story of their journey to the stratosphere and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter