CHANCE OF MINOR STORMS TODAY: NOAA forecasters say there is a chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms on Feb. 8th when a slow-moving CME is expected to reach Earth. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
THIS SUNGRAZING COMET COULD BE INTERESTING: A comet is falling toward the sun--directly toward the sun. The suicidal encounter in April could become one of the most exciting backyard astronomy events of 2026. Puerto Rican amateur astronomer Efrain Morales photographed Comet MAPS (C/2026 A1) on Feb 6th:
"This is a Kreutz sungrazer discovered on Jan. 13th from the AMACS1 Observatory in the Atacama Desert," says Morales.
It's only a faint smudge now, but forecasts suggest the comet could become very bright when it skims the sun's surface only 487,088 miles (783,892 km) away during first week of April. For comparison, the Great Comet of 1965, (Ikeya-Seki) came within 280,000 miles (450,000 km) of the sun and shone at magnitude -10.
Sungrazing comets often raise hopes, then dash them as they brighten just before disintegrating into nothingness. Comet MAPS might follow that pattern, but there is a hint that it could be different: Comet MAPS was discovered at a distance of 2.056 AU from the sun, making it the furthest Kreutz sungrazer ever discovered, surpassing the record previously held by Comet Ikeya-Seki.
There's no guarantee that Comet MAPS will be anything like Ikeya-Seki, but it will be fun to monitor in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned!
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CRYSTAL FOREVER ROSE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY: This bloom will never wilt. The Forever Rose flew to the edge of space on Oct. 4, 2025, floating 101,875 feet above the Sierra Nevada Mountains of central California.
You can have it for $98.95. The 3-dimensional rose is laser etched inside a 2.3-inch diameter premium K9 crystal ball. The word "forever" is inscribed beneath the rose to denote eternal love. The stand is included, and it comes with a unique gift card showing the crystal ball at the top of Earth’s atmosphere.
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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