A TWISTED SUNSPOT: The magnetic field of sunspot 4321 is unusual. According to Hale's Law, the sunspot's magnetic polarity is supposed to look like this: 
. Instead, it's like this: 
. The 90-degree twist is a sign of magnetic tension that could produce a strong M or X-class solar flare. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
POLAR STRATOSPHERIC CLOUDS: Normally, Earth's stratosphere is empty and transparent. This week, however, it is filling with rainbow-colored clouds. "On Christmas Day, I observed the first PSCs of the season," reports Fredrik Broms of Kvaløya, Norway. "They were peaking through a gap in these dark and gloomy rain clouds."
PSCs are Polar Stratospheric Clouds. They form when temperatures in the Arctic stratosphere drop to a staggeringly low -85 C (188 K). The appearance of Type II PSCs over Norway signals that temperatures have dropped to that level.
Clouds have trouble forming in the stratosphere because it is so dry--drier than any desert on Earth's surface. At -85 C, however, water molecules can get together to form ice crystals. High-altitude sunlight touching those crystals creates a blossom of pastel color.
"The time around winter solstice is usually a good time to look for PSCs and this year was no exception," says Broms. "Let's hope for more in the days to come!"
more images: from Even Nilsen of Hinnøya Norway
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GLOW-IN-THE-DARK AURORA PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the Glow-in-the-Dark Aurora Pendant. On July 8th, it flew to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $99.95. For 3 hours, the necklace floated 106,444 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California while radiation sensors inside the balloon's payload gathered data for a student cosmic ray monitoring project.
The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space jewelry to support their high-altitude ballooning program. All items come with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and explaining the Earth to Sky Calculus radiation experiment.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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