SOLSTICE STORM IN PROGRESS: A minor G1-class geomagnetic storm is in progress on Dec. 21st. Why? Earth's magnetic field is connecting to the sun's (SWx jargon: "BsubZ is pointing south"), giving the solar wind an unimpeded path into our magnetosphere. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
A SOLSTICE ANALEMMA: If you took a picture of the sun at the same time each day, would it remain in the same position? The answer is "no", and the figure-8 shape traced out by the sun over the course of a year is called an analemma.
Italian photographer Paolo Bardelli stitched together 48 pictures spanning 12 months to reveal the analemma over Lake Varese. The low-hanging solstice sun is highlighted:
"Once a week at 4 p.m. local time (weather permitting), I photographed the sun from the lake's shore near Schiranna," says Bardelli. "One of the many swans that flock to the shores of Lake Varese in winter can be seen in the foreground."
Today, Dec. 21st, is the northern winter solstice, marking the change of seasons and the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. Step outside at 4 pm, look west at the low sun, and say "hello" to Winter!
Bonus: Other planets have analemmas, too. Not all are figure-8s, however. The shape depends on the tilt of the planet's spin axis and the eccentricity of its orbit around the sun. Martian analemmas resemble a teardrop, while Jupiter's analemma looks like a jelly-bean:
courtesy: analemma.com
Click here to learn more about alien analemmas.
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CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM THE STRATOSPHERE: Christmas is coming. Are you looking for a far-out gift? Check out the Earth to Sky Store. It's filled with items that have visited the edge of space onboard cosmic ray research balloons:
Earth to Sky gifts have flown above 99.7% of Earth's atmosphere, experiencing space-like blasts of cosmic rays, extreme cold, and a wild ride parachuting back to Earth after the balloon explodes. Even Amazon doesn't carry items this far out.
Don't forget to enter coupon code "BLACKCAT" at checkout for a 10% holiday discount.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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