FARSIDE SUNSPOT TURNS TOWARD EARTH: A farside sunspot that hurled multiple CMEs into space last week is emerging over the sun's eastern limb. It's right here. The sunspot has been quiet for the past 24 hours, but if it resumes its previous activity, Earth could soon be in the strike zone for solar storms. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
THE STONEHENGE OF PARIS: Twice a year, the setting Sun slips into the Arc de Triomphe, turning the Champs-Élysées into a solar observatory. Yesterday, May 8th, Jean-Christophe Vitu photographed the alignment from Paris, France:
"The glowing disk of the sun was perfectly framed by the Arc," says Vitu.
Unlike England's Stonehenge, which was designed to mark solstices as much as five thousand years ago, Paris's Stonehenge is not an ancient observatory. It is an unintended alignment of the sun with the historic axis of Paris--a ceremonial sightline linking the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden, the Champs-Élysées and, of course, the Arc de Triomphe.
The next alignment: August 4th. Book your ticket to Paris!
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'ALWAYS AND FOREVER' EMERALD PENDANT: It's the color of a green flash in a golden sunset: The Always and Forever Emerald Pendent. On April 29, 2026, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $199.95. Engraved with the words "I love you always and forever", this 18K gold-plated sterling silver pendant has a synthetic emerald in the middle surrounded by glittering 5A cubic zirconia nuggets. It is a visually striking premium pendant that makes a great anniversary or birthday gift.
You pendant 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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