CANNIBAL CME ALERT: A new NOAA model of today's solar activity suggests that two incoming CMEs will merge into a single Cannibal CME. Cannibal CMEs form when a fast CME sweeps up a slower one to create an even more potent aurora-causing storm cloud. If the latest model is correct, the cannibal could hit Earth during the late hours of June 4th, sparking a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm. Mid-latitude auroras may appear in Europe and the USA. CME Impact Alerts: SMS Text
AN ANTI-HALE SUNSPOT IS X-FLARING: This was not in the forecast. During the early hours of June 3rd, sunspot 4455 unexpectedly began to erupt, producing a series of X-class and almost-X-class solar flares:
Sunspot 4455 is a rare anti-Hale sunspot. "Anti-Hale" means the sunspot has a reversed-polarity magnetic field, which makes it unstable. Studies show that about 3% of all sunspots fall into this category. 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.
Right now the explosions are coming every ~8 hours. We're almost due for another now. Solar flare Alerts: SMS Text
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STERLING SILVER RAINBOW DRAGONFLY: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the Rainbow Dragonfly Space Pendant. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $179.95. Made of stained glass with a sterling silver exoskeleton, the pendant has a wingspan of 1.1-inches and comes with a matching 18-inch sterling silver chain.
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.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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