THE SUN IS FLATLINING: Solar activity is low. With no sunspots actively flaring, the sun's x-ray output has flatlined. This situation is expected to continue for the next 3 days, at least, barring the unexpected appearance of new sunspots. Free: Spaceweather.com Newsletter
NORTH SEA FIREBALL: A space rock entered Earth's atmosphere last night, creating a dramatic fireball over the North Sea. "We all screamed when it happened, I was so excited!" reports Ian Sproat who photographed the object from the Northumberland coastline of England:
"I was out taking pictures of the Milky Way rising over Lindisfarne (also known as 'Holy Island') when this huge fire ball passed through the frame creating an insane contrast of stars, landscape, and drama," he says.
So far the American Meteor Society (AMS) has received 195 reports of this big event from both sides of the North Sea. Some observers say it was much brighter than a Full Moon. Considering the amount of reflected light from the landscape of Holy Island, those estimates seem reasonable.
The green color of the fireball is perfectly normal. Many of the brightest fireballs glow with a green light caused by intense heating of magnesium and nickle in the disintegrating space rock. If you saw the fireball, please submit your observations to the AMS.
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PREMIUM ITEM--THE WROUGHT IRON SPACE ROSE: Mother's Day is coming soon. Give mom a premium gift that never wilts or dies: The Wrought Iron Space Rose. On Feb. 1, 2026, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched the metal bloom to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $197.95. This is a premium item. The rose was forged by hand from iron, the element created in supernova explosions--so this rose is genuine "star stuff." Buy this rose and you will also receive a greeting card showing the bloom in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again.
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