DOWNGRADED STORM FORECAST: A CME expected to hit Earth on Jan. 3rd missed. There's still a chance for an impact on Jan. 4th, though. A CME launched by a C6-class flare on Jan. 1st could arrive today and spark a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm. Aurora visibility will be poor due to the glare from this weekend's full Wolf Moon. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
CHASING THE FULL WOLF MOON: Nothing energizes a sled dog like moonlight on fresh snow. Last night, these three chased the full Wolf Moon all the way to North Lake, CA, ~9300 feet above sea level:
"The Moon flooded the landscape with bright moonlight," says Dr. Tony Phillips, a space weather forecaster who moonlights as a backcountry dogsledder. "It looked amazing in conjunction with Jupiter only a few degrees away."
According to folklore, this weekend's full Moon is the Wolf Moon. It is brighter than normal for three reasons:
1. The Moon is near perigee (closest approach to Earth), making it appear up to ~7% larger and ~15% brighter than average.
2. The Earth-Moon system is near perihelion (closest approach to the sun), brightening the Moon another 3%.
3. Fresh snow reflects as much as 90% of incoming moonlight, effectively turning night into day.
If you want to see a *really* bright Moon, go outside tonight and take a look. Jupiter is there, too. Dogs are not required (but recommended). [sky map]
more images: from Ali Rahimi of Esfahan, Iran; from Jean-Christophe Vitu of Paris, France;
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IRON HEART VALENTINE'S GIFT: Valentine’s Day is coming. Do you have a truly far-out gift? The Iron Heart Valentine’s Swing celebrates a love that is strong, steady, and enduring. On Nov. 13, 2025, it flew to the edge of space, floating 100,895 feet above the Sierra Nevada Mountains of central California:
You can have it for $159.95. The gift-boxed swing includes a unique keepsake card featuring the Iron Heart at the top of Earth's atmosphere. Inside, the card tells the story of the flight and certifies that this swing has been to the edge of space.
Earth to Sky Valentine's 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. And, best of all, all sales support student science projects and STEM education.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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