QUIET WEEKEND: Earth's magnetic field is in a state of calm with no storms in the offing. The quiet is likel to continue for at least the next 2 days as no CMEs or streams of solar wind are en route to Earth. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
ALPHA CAPRICORNID METEORS: A meteor storm is coming, but don't get excited. The peak is still 300 years away. Frankie Lucena of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico photographed one of the first arrivals on July 6th:
"This is an alpha Capricornid meteor," says Lucena. "It appeared all of a sudden above the hills near my home."
Alpha Capricornid meteors are debris from Comet 169P/NEAT. They appear every year in July with peak rates of 5 to 9 meteors per hour. Many “alpha Caps” are slow, bright fireballs like Lucena saw.
Researchers Peter Jenniskens (SETI Institute) and Jeremie Vaubaillon (Paris Observatory) have studied the alpha Cap debris stream. They believe it resulted from a major fragmentation event ~5000 years ago when as much as half of the original comet disintegrated. Since then, the debris has been drifting toward Earth. When it arrives, this late July meteor shower will intensify into a full-fledged storm with thousands of meteors per hour.
Next step: Cryogenic hibernation. Wake up in July 2326 and enjoy the show.
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18K GOLD SUNFLOWER PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the 18K Gold Sunflower Pendant. On June 3rd, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $169.95. This 18k gold-plated pendant is inscribed with the words: "You are my sunshine." The sunflower's "eye" is a genuine citrine crystal, which sparkles in sunlight even at sea level.
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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