THE SOLAR WIND IS BLOWING VERY FAST: Earth has entered a stream of solar wind flowing from a hole in the sun's atmosphere. The gaseous material is blowing faster than 750 km/s (1.7 million mph) and sparking G1-class geomagnetic storms on Dec. 22nd. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
SOLSTICE GEOMAGNETIC STORM: The longest night of the year did not go to waste. In Finland, the sky filled with auroras for so many hours that the display spilled from Dec. 21st to 22nd. Sebastian Sainio sends this self-portrait from the island of Raippaluoto:
"The elevated solar wind put on a good show," says Sainio. "I took this picture of myself standing on a quiet road admiring the auroras at around 1am local time."
The auroras appeared when Earth's magnetic field connected to the sun's. (In space weather jargon, we say "BsubZ tipped south.") This connection gave the solar wind unimpeded access to our planet's magnetosphere, coloring the Arctic sky like an electron beam in an old-fashioned picture tube. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
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
Realtime Comet Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery
Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter