CME IMPACT PRODUCED MINOR STORMS: As predicted, a CME struck Earth's magnetic field on Nov. 7th (0517 UTC). However, it was not as effective as expected. The impact produced a series of only minor G1-class geomagnetc storms, rather than the strong G3-storm aurora watchers wanted. Another CME is expected to deliver a glancing blow on Nov. 8th, raising hopes for auroras tomorrow night. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS SUNSPOT? Answer: It has a twisted magnetic field. Active sunspot 4274 is emitting almost-daily CMEs and strong solar flares. The reason why may be found in this magnetic map from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:
Note the distribution of pluses (+) and minuses (-). These are the sunspot's magnetic poles, and they are arranged in an unusual way.
According to Hale's Law, the sunspot's magnetic poles should be oriented -/+, that is, negative (-) on the left and positive (+) on the right. Instead, they are twisted 90 degrees; positive (+) is on top and negative (-) is on the bottom. Sunspot 4274 is breaking the law.
The twisted magnetic roots of this sunspot are torqued and full of tension. Strong flares are how it tries to relax. NOAA forecasters say there is an 80% chance of M-class solar flares and a 35% chance of powerful X-flares on Nov. 7th. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
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WILD RIDE OF THE SPACE PICKLE: The Christmas pickle is a holiday tradition in the United States. Make way for a new tradition: The Christmas Space Pickle! To raise money for their cosmic ray research, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus have flown a payload-full of glass pickles to the stratosphere:
You can have one for $119.95. Each space-faring gherkin comes with a Christmas card showing your ornament in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space and back again.
The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space ornaments to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Don't wait for Christmas--get yours now!
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
WATCH FOR A COMET AMONG THE AURORAS: The next few nights could bring a rare photo-op--a comet among the auroras. Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) is well-positioned in the sunset sky for a cameo during this week's geomagnetic storms. Here's an example from Peter Rosen in Abisko, Sweden:
"It’s not often that I swear at the Northern Lights," says Rosen. "But I wanted to photograph comet Lemmon -- and then an aurora showed up and ruined the shot!"
Comet Lemmon is approaching the sun for a close encounter on Nov. 8th. The moment of perihelion (0.53 AU) could be framed by the glow of a CME impact. Look for the comet after sunset shining at 4th magnitude in the constellation Ophiuchus. Sky maps: Nov. 7, 8.
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