SOLAR WIND STORM IN PROGRESS: Today, a stream of solar wind is blowing around Earth faster than 700 km/s (1.6 million mph). This is causing minor G1-class geomagnetic storms and auroras in some northern US states. Wind speeds should remain high for another 24 hours. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
A STORMY MASTERPIECE: Amateur astronomer Peter Rosen has released a jaw-dropping new film of Jupiter’s storm systems that looks like it came straight from a spacecraft in orbit. However, this cinematic tour of the gas giant was crafted right here on Earth. Play the movie, and note that almost every frame came from a telescope in someone's backyard:
"In the late 2024 and early 2025, I downloaded thousands of still images of Jupiter taken by amateur planetary photographers from around the world," explains Rosen. "They were taken as part of a Pro-Am collaboration for NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter."
What Rosen did next is unprecedented. "Absolutely no AI has been used," he says. "It is more like putting together a 5000-pieces puzzle, but you first have to construct every piece manually one by one!"
The resulting video tracks dozens of storm systems circling Jupiter over a 3 month period. "A jetstream disturbance in Jan. 2025 looks like a comet rampaging around the planet at 650 km/h while gobbling gases from nearby regions and leaving them with big scars," marvels Rosen. Here's a finderchart of the most important storms.
The biggest surprise of all is Jupiter's north pole:
"This was a big revelation to me," says Rosen. "In 2016, Juno found the cyclone surrounded by 8 smaller vortices. I never imagined that peripheral vortices surrounding the north polar vortex system could be detected in telescopic images taken by amateurs from our planet 920 million kilometers away--but there they are."
"This is my second project for the Juno Pro-Am collaboration. The first one was produced 8 years ago," he concludes. "I want to thank all the skilled amateurs from around the world who made this possible."
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GOLDEN SAPPHIRE PENDANT: Are you looking for an unforgettable gift? Consider the Golden Sapphire Space Pendent. On Feb. 20, 2025, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $199.95. Engraved with the words "I love you always and forever", this 18K gold-plated sterling silver pendant features a heart-shaped sapphire crystal surrounded by a ring of glittering 5A cubic zirconia nuggets. It is a visually striking premium pendant that makes a once-in-a-lifetime anniversary or birthday gift.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
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