MINOR CME IMPACTS POSSIBLE TODAY/TOMORROW: Two CMEs could hit Earth in the next 48 hours. Individually, the impacts are expected to be weak, but together they could be geoeffective, sparking G1-class geomagnetic storms. The CMEs were hurled into space by an M8.4-class flare on June 15th and a C5.5-flare on June 17th, both from sunspot 4114. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
NAKED-EYE NOVA IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: A star in the southern constellation Lupus exploded on June 12th and since then has brightened rapidly. Dawid Moździerski, who photographed the nova from the Atacama desert of Chile, says "it is now at magnitude +5.7," just above the threshold for naked-eye visibility. South Korean astronomer Bum-Suk Yeom created this finder chart using a picture he took on June 18th:
The nova, named V462 Lup, is an old-fashioned "classical nova." First documented by Chinese astronomers some 2000 years ago, these explosions occur in binary star systems. White dwarf stars steal gas from a bloated partner until the stolen fuel ignites in a sudden thermonuclear blast.
Novas that reach 6th magnitude are uncommon. They appear no more than once a year, and most are so close to the limit of naked-eye sensitivity that they can be invisible despite being technically "naked-eye." Will V462 Lup continue to brighten and clear this low bar? Or fade before most people can see it? Stay tuned!
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CONSTELLATION CAT NIGHT LIGHT (CRYSTAL BALL): It's the most far-out feline night light ever--the Constellation Cat Crystal Ball. On April 23, 2025, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a giant helium balloon.
You can have it for $139.95. Outlined by stars in the style of an astronomical constellation, the laser-etched cat comes with an LED stand that produces a soothing glow for your bedside table. Also included: A unique greeting card shows the crystal ball in flight and tells the story of its journey to the edge of space.
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