ARCTIC AURORA WATCH: NOAA forecasters say that a CME launched on Dec. 20th might pass close to Earth on Dec. 24th. If it does, ripples in the solar wind could spark Arctic auroras on Christmas Eve. Travel tip: If you're flying on a high-latitude route this week, pick the window seat. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
A SPECTACULAR HALO DISPLAY OVER CANADA: Bitter cold and diamond-dust ice crystals combined to produce an extraordinary sky show over Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Dec. 22nd. Photographer Marc Toews stepped outside into temperatures of -25C (-41C with windchill) and immediately noticed that this was no ordinary display.
"I’ve seen sundogs before," says Toews, "but today was something else."
His photo reveals a textbook collection of ice halos. On either side of the sun are bright sundogs, their rainbow colors sharply separated with red nearest the sun. A faint parhelic circle runs horizontally through the display, while high above the sun a circumzenithal arc forms a rainbow colored smile. A 22-degree halo, an upper tangent arc, and a supralateral arc complete the scene.
Complex displays like this are rare. All types of ice halos are caused by sunlight shining through ice crystals in the air. In extreme cold, especially during calm conditions, these crystals can become well aligned, allowing multiple halo types to appear at once. Winnipeg’s deep freeze provided ideal conditions.
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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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