GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G1): Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible today, July 13th, as Earth passes through a stream of high-speed solar wind. The gaseous material is flowing from an equatorial hole in the sun's atmosphere. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
BEHOLD, "THE BEAST": Around the world, astronomers are monitoring a massive prominence curling over the sun's northeastern limb. David Wilson of Inverness, Scotland, calls it "The Beast":
"This is 3 hours of the giant prominence as seen from my backyard solar observatory," says Wilson. "It looks to me like some huge 4-legged beast shuffling along."
Prominences are clouds of hydrogen held above the surface of the sun by magnetic fields. The shuffling of the Beast is a sign of magnetic instability, and may herald a collapse or magnificent eruption. Photo-op, anyone? Monitoring is encouraged on July 13th.
more images: from Pat P. of Pittsburgh, PA; from Michael Jaeger of AZM Martinsberg Austria; from Michael Borman of Evansville, Indiana; from James Roger Samworth of Nailstone, Leicestershire, UK; from Simon Metcalfe of Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
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THE ALIEN ABDUCTION CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT: "Turnabout is fair play," said the cow. You can't buy this on Amazon: The Alien Abduction Christmas Ornamant is only available from the Earth to Sky Store. On July 7, 2025, it flew to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $149.95. Hand-sculpted in the USA, this humorous ornament is intricately detailed, from the tied-up alien at the rear of the saucer to the cow at the helm. Durable polyresin construction makes it lightweight enough to hang on any tree, but sturdy enough to last for many Christmases to come--a guaranteed conversation starter!
The students are selling space ornaments to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the ornament 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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