CO-ROTATING INTERACTION REGION (UPDATED): Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on Feb. 15th when a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) is expected to hit Earth. CIRs are transition zones between fast- and slow-moving streams of solar wind. They contain shock waves and enhanced magnetic fields that do a good job sparking Arctic auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
CRYOVOLCANIC ERUPTION ON COMET 29P: The British Astronomical Association (BAA) is reporting a new outburst of cryovolcanic comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann. On Feb. 10th, the comet’s nucleus abruptly brightened 100-fold (5 magnitudes)–a sign that a major eruption is underway.
Amateur astronomer Eliot Herman has been monitoring the outburst, and his latest image on Feb 13th shows it is a spiral:
''It reminds me of an ammonoid fossil," says Herman. "The debris from this usually bright outburst appears dense, and it will be interesting to monitor its development as it expands in the days ahead."
Dr. Richard Miles of the BAA has long argued that 29P is not an ordinary comet. In a seminal paper published 10 years ago, he describes how 29P may have "ice volcanos" that erupt dozens of times a year. The "magma" consists of cold liquid hydrocarbons (e.g., CH4, C2H4, C2H6 and C3H8) mixed with dissolved CO2. If this model is correct, 29P is like a can of soda, shaken and poised to pop whenever a vent opens.
Major eruptions like this one often come in pairs, triples, and even quintuplets. "So, all observers, please watch out for more strong events in the coming hours and days," urges Miles.
29P is currently in the constellaton Leo and visible through mid-sized backyard telecopes (magnitude +12). Point your optics here.
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THE FLOATING HAMMER: No toolkit is complete without one: A Floating Hammer! Thos one drifted through the stratosphere for more than three hours during an cosmic ray research balloon flight:
You can have it for $97.95. This compact 8 oz. hammer is light enough to fly on a balloon yet dense enough to deliver a powerful blow. The magnetic head holds a nail for one-handed starting, and the stubby 6 in. length is perfect for tight work areas.
The space hammer comes with a card showing the tool floating at the top of Earth's atmosphere. The interior of the card tells the story of the flight and confirms that this gift has been to the edge of space and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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