EARTH-DIRECTED X-FLARE AND CME (UPDATED): Active sunspot 4274 exploded again today, Nov. 9th at 0735 UTC, producing an X1.8-class solar flare and a full halo CME. During the flare, shortwave radios in the Indian Ocean briefly stopped working due to atmospheric ionization. A NASA model predicts that the CME will reach Earth around UT midnight on Nov. 11-12. The impact could spark a G2-class geomagnetic storm. CME impact alerts: SMS Text.
COMET 3I/ATLAS HAS SPROUTED AN UNUSUAL TAIL: After passing behind the sun in late October, interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is now visible from Earth again. Astronomers are photographing it in the pre-dawn sky (constellation Virgo).
Michael Jaeger of Austria has been tracking the comet since it re-appeared on Nov. 4th. "We have something unusual to report," he says. "3I/ATLAS showed a complex tail structure early this morning (Nov. 8th)."
"At the time of exposure, the comet was only 7-10° above the horizon," he says. "At the end, twilight interfered with the observation, which took place under bright moonlight. We observed from a mountain location."
This image differs from other photos we've seen in recent days, which show only a fuzzy blob with no distinct tail. Jaeger's exposure detected a spray of four or five tails, including a narrow jet pointing toward the sun.
Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb suggests that 3I/ATLAS might be a spaceship. If so, this could be a sign of propulsion; after all, engines make plumes.Yet, there is no sign that 3I/ATLAS has changed course. Jaeger found it exactly where it should be, following the same cometary trajectory it was on before perihelion.
"The astrometry showed that it continues to follow the ephemeris," notes Jaeger. "The residuals were better than 1 arc second. It hasn't slowed down or released any small spaceships."
Monitoring is encouraged. Astronomers, please photograph 3I/ATLAS in the mornings ahead and submit your images here.
more images: from Frank Niebling of PixelSkies, Spain; from Alberto Quijano Vodniza of Pasto, Colombia;
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NATURAL MOONSTONE CELTIC LOVE KNOT PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Nothing says "I love you" like a natural moonstone from the edge of space. On June 12th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus flew this one 111,877 feet above Earth's surface onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $139.95. The moonstone is wrapped in a sterling silver Celtic love knot and suspended from a matching 18-inch sterling silver chain. It spend more than two hours at the top of Earth's atmosphere before parachuting to a landing site in Death Valley National Park.
The students are selling space pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the item in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space.
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