FARSIDE SUNSPOTS ARE COMING: Helioseimic maps of the sun's farside reveal two sunspot groups lurking just behind the sun's eastern limb. They'll turn to face Earth in a few days, potentially bringing stormy space weather. Both of these active regions have been hurling significant CMEs into space. If their activity continues apace, we'll soon be in the line of fire. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
INTERSTELLAR COMET VS. STARLINK: Before you read this news item, click here and take a look at the space around Earth. Our planet is surrounded by an unprecedented number of satellites, including more than 8000 Starlinks. When SpaceX began the Starlink internet program in 2019, astronomers expressed concern about its possible interference with astrophotography. This video of interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS illustrates the problem:
"Four satellites (#1, #2, #3, #4) passed through the field of view while I was recording the comet," says photographer Jose de Queiroz of Falera, Grisssons, Switzerland.
Each of the interloping satellites was dramatically brighter than the comet. (In case you can't find it, it's right here.) A transit intersecting 3I/ATLAS would totally overwhelm the comet's feeble light. Here's another example.
To learn more about light pollution from megaconstellations, visit the International Astronomical Union's web page on dark sky protection. There might be something you can do.
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AMBER BUMBLEBEE SPACE PENDANT: Bumblebees don't usually fly so high. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this one to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon. Here it is floating 115,158 feet above California's Sierra Nevada:
You can have it for $179.95. This bee is made of genuine Baltic Amber with a sterling silver exoskeleton. The rich Cognac-colored pendant measures 3/4 inch and comes with a matching 18-inch sterling silver chain.
The students are selling these unique pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the bumblebee in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
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