GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G1): Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on April 26th when one or two CMEs are expected to graze Earth's magnetic fields. The incoming CMEs were launched by a "sympathetic" double solar flare on April 23rd. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
COMET PANSTARRS IN SOHO CORONAGRAPHS: Comet PanSTARRS (C/2025 R3) is passing between Earth and the sun this weekend. The bright comet is invisible from Earth because of the sun's glare, but space-based coronagraphs have a great view. Here is the latest movie from SOHO:
The comet is brightening rapidly for a counterintuitive reason. Solar heat is not responsible. Instead, it's caused by forward scattering. Backlit by sunlight, dust particles in the comet's tail scatter photons forward to Earth, causing a surge in apparent brightness.
And it you're wondering why the comet's tail doesn't point away from the sun ... same answer. It's dust. Because of the forward scattering process, we're seeing bright dust rather than fainter gas. Dust tails are not easily nudged by solar radiation pressure or solar wind, so they trace the comet's orbit rather than pointing radially away from the sun as a gas tail would do.
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SILVER SAPPHIRE SPACE PENDANT: It has just returned from the edge of space: The Silver Sapphire Space Pendant. The pendant flew to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon, floating for more than 3 hours above 100,000 feet:
You can have it for $219.95. Engraved with the words "I love you always and forever", this sterling silver pendant has a heart-shaped sapphire in the middle surrouunded by a ring of glittering 5A cubic zirconia nuggets. It is a visually striking necklace perfect for anniversaries and romantic birthdays.
The students are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the jewelry in flight and telling the story of its trip to the stratosphere and back again.
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