NASA ANNOUNCES INCREASING SOLAR ACTIVITY: A new study published Sept. 8th in the Astrophysical Journal Letters concludes that solar activity has reversed a decades-long weakening trend. Future solar cycles should be even more intense than the one we're in now (Solar Cycle 25). The findings confirm our own report in May predicting long-term increases in solar activity due to the Centennial Gleissberg Cycle. Stay tuned for more sunspots and fewer Starlinks. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
PROTON PANCAKES: During Monday's strong geomagnetic storm, auroras filled the sky over Binghamton, New York. "What an incredible show!" says Jessica Fridrich, a longtime aurora chaser who has seen many similar displays before. This time, however, there was something different. Look at this horizontal green band:
Fridrich photographed many examples during the storm. "I believe these might be proton auroras," she says.
We call them "proton pancakes." Most auroras are caused by electrons from the sun. The green bands Fridrich photographed, however, are illuminated by protons. They come from Earth's ring current system.
Think of Saturn's rings--except made of electricity. Earth is encircled by a donut-shaped circuit carrying millions of amps. It is created by the rotation of our planet's magnetosphere. During strong geomagnetic storms, protons can rain down from the ring system to create unusual forms in the atmosphere.
More equinox storms may be in the offing, boosted by the "Russell-McPherron effect." Pancakes anyone? Submit your photos here.
more images: from Steven McCarron of Pennan Bay, North East Scotland; from Emmett Kyle of Cadott, Wisconsin; from Rob King of the Porcupine Mountains, Michigan; from Rick Clements of Traverse City, Michigan
Realtime Comet SWAN Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
FORGET ICE CUBES. TRY *SPACE CUBES*: Put these in your cup for an out-of-this-world drink: Space Cubes. Made of granite, they experienced the cold touch of space on April 21st when students launched a cosmic ray research balloon to the stratosphere:
You can have a set of 9 cubes for $109.95 (glass not included). Also known as "whiskey stones," refrigerated space cubes cool a drink without diluting it, solving the problem of ordinary melting ice cubes. The boxed set comes with a greeting card showing the cubes in flight.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter