A HOLE IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE: A canyon-shaped hole has opened in the sun's atmosphere, and it is spewing a stream of solar wind directly toward Earth. G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible when the solar wind arrives on July 22nd. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
SUNSPOT TOO BIG FOR WEB PAGES: New sunspot 4493 is so large, only a fraction of it fits onto the page. Click to view the entire sunspot in a state of turmoil on July 21st:
"Just ust 40 minutes of data reveals how fast AR4493 is evolving, increasing in total size, with many vortices, signs of the magnetic flux tubes emerging and rotating," says photographer Maximilian-Vlad Teodorescu of the Institute of Space Science in Romania. "What a show! "
Since yesterday, this sunspot has more than tripled in area. Moreover, it has developed a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field in which opposite polarities are crowded together in explosive proximity. Earth is squarely in the strike zone if an X-flare occurs today. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text
more images: from Thierry Legault of Paris, France; from Philippe Tosi of Ariège, France; from Michael Borman of Evansville, Indiana; from Pepe Manteca of Begues, Spain; from Siegfried Trattnig of Vienna, Austria; from Alain Malfait of Esterel, France;
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BLOWN GLASS BLACK CAT SPACE PENDANT: Are you looking for a far-out gift? Consider the Black Cat Space Pendant. On July 17th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched it to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $109.95. This feline astronaut is made of human-blown glass, and hangs from an 18-inch sterling silver chain. It is a purrfect birthday, anniversary or belated graduation gift.
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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