ARTEMIS SPACE WEATHER UPDATE: A geomagnetic storm around Earth has just intensified to category G2 (Moderate). The crew of Artemis II are still orbiting Earth as they prepare for their translunar injection burn, so they are inside the storm. However, G2 is not strong enough to cause problems. It's more of a sky watching opportunity. Auroras may be visible around the poles when the crew capsule is above the planet's nightside. Aurora alerts: SMS Text
Comet Update: The sungrazing comet described below has just entered SOHO's field of view. It's the tadpole in the lower left of this image.
SUNGRAZING COMET MAPS: We're about to get our first look at sungrazing Comet MAPS (C/2026 A1) in SOHO's C3 coronagraph. This infographic created by South Korean astronomer Bum-Suk Yeom shows the comet entering the field of view during the early hours of April 3rd:
On April 4th, this comet will skim just 160,000 km (0.23 solar radii) above the sun's surface. Astronomers have been anticipating the event for months. In 2011, Comet Lovejoy (C/2011 W3) skimmed the sun at about the same distance, survived, and became a spectacular sight for weeks.
Could the same thing happen to Comet MAPS?
"I'm pessimistic," says Qicheng Zhang of the Lowell Observatory. "The nucleus of Comet MAPS appears to be only ~0.4 km in diameter, which is on the lower side of estimates for Comet Lovejoy. It might not be large enough to survive."
Even if it disintegrates, intense solar heating will turn the comet's dust into a trail of brightly glowing gas. A peak brightness of magnitude −2 should occur about ten hours before its closest approach to the sun (perihelion). Join SOHO for a ringside seat.
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THE STERLING SILVER ARTEMIS PENDANT: On March 31st, 2026, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a cosmic ray research balloon to the stratosphere. They also launched The Artemis Pendant. Here it is floating 113,209 feet above California's White Mountains with the nearly full Moon in the background:
You can have it for $179.95. At the time of the flight, NASA's Artemis II Moon rocket was poised for its own successful launch from Florida the very next day. The Artemis Pendant celebrates their success. Wrapped in a sterling silver infinity-shaped frame, the authentic Swarovski citrine crystal spent 3 hours in the stratosphere in the same space-black frame as the beckoning Moon.
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