MOON ROCKET DELAYED: NASA was supposed to launch a rocket to the Moon this month. Make that next month. Artemis II will miss its February launch window after a fueling test uncovered a hydrogen leak. Mission managers now target March 6th as the earliest possible launch date while planning a second dress rehearsal to verify fixes. Meanwhile, astronauts have been released from quarantine.
THE DANGER OF SUNSPOTS THAT TURN AWAY FROM EARTH: Big sunspot AR4366 is about to disappear over the sun's western limb. This makes it uniquely dangerous. Scroll past this farewell shot from astronomer David Wilson to find out why:
"On Feb. 9th, I managed to catch AR4366 just before it went over the western limb," says Wilson, who filmed the departing sunspot from his backyard solar observatory in Inverness, Scotland.
Sunspots located near the sun's western limb are magnetically connected to Earth. The sun's magnetic field spirals around like a lawn sprinker--a shape known as the "Parker spiral."
Look at this diagram. Lines of magnetic force coming out of the western limb curve around and touch our planet.
AR4366 is approaching the "danger zone." If there is an eruption in the next few days, debris may be funneled back to Earth by the Parker spiral, peppering satellites with high-energy protons. In extreme cases, these particles could reach into the atmosphere and expose air travelers as well.
Hurry through the danger zone, AR4366!
more images: from Michael Teoh of Heng Ee Observatory, Penang, Malaysia; from Howard Eskildsen of Ocala, Florida; from Richard Sears of Ballico, California
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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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