SUNSET SKY SHOW: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. Venus and Jupiter are converging in the twilight sky -- noticably closer together every night as they head for a spectacular conjunction on June 8-9. The show starts now! Sky maps: May 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.
REVERSED POLARITY SUNSPOT: Europe's Solar Orbiter continues to have a good view of the farside of the sun, and it is photographing some large sunspot groups. One of them is unusual. Its magnetic polarity is reversed:
Solar Orbiter photo of the farside of the sun with magnetogram inset. May 23, 2026
According to Hale’s Law, Solar Cycle 25 sunspots in the sun’s northern hemisphere should be polarized like this: 
. Indeed, most of the sunspots in the photo obey the law. One of them, however, does not. Labeled "reversed polarity," its magnetic field is 
.
Studies show that about 3% of all sunspots violate Hale’s Law. In most ways, reversed polarity sunspots are just like other sunspots. They have the same lifespan and tend to be about the same size as normal sunspots.
In one key way they are different: According to a 1982 survey by Frances Tang of the Big Bear Solar Observatory, reversed polarity sunspots are more than twice as likely to develop complex magnetic fields and, thus, explode.
A farside X-flare could be in the offing. Stay tuned. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
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NEED BABY YODA, YOU DO: Grogu has been to the stratosphere. The future Jedi left Earth May 21st onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon. Here he is, floating Force-free 107,611 feet above Earth's surface:
You can have him for $99.95. The students are selling Star Wars bobbleheads to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. The Mandalorian is also available. They make great birthday and graduation gifts. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the bobblehead in flight and telling the story of its journey 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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