M-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: This morning (Dec. 27th @ 0150 UTC), Earth-orbiting satellites recorded a strong M5-class solar flare: image. It came from a developing active region near new sunspot 4323. This region near the sun's eastern limb seems poised for significant sunspot development. If so, the flare could herald more explosions to come. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
RARE DOUBLE SOLAR CONJUNCTION: Are you looking for Mars or Venus? Don't! You'll hurt your eyes. The two planets are very close to the sun, converging for a rare double solar conjunction. This coronagraph image from NOA's GOES-19 satellite shows the two worlds on Dec. 27th:
Click to set the scene in motion
Mars and Venus are moving in opposite directions, swapping places in the heavens. On Jan. 6th (17:00 UTC), Venus will pass behind the sun moving right to left. On Jan. 9th (09:59 UT), Mars will pass behind the sun moving left to right. Weeks after they cross paths, Mars will become a naked-eye morning planet, while Venus becomes the brilliant "Evening Star."
When a planet passes behind the sun, astronomers call it a "superior solar conjunction." Mars and Venus are about to have consecutive solar conjunctions less than 3 days apart, making this a true Mars-Venus-sun alignment to kick off the New Year.
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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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