GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS: A moderate G2-class geomagnetic storm is in progress on Aug. 8th. Why? Earth is passing through the magnetized wake of a near-miss CME. There is a chance that this storm could escalate to category G3 (Strong). Aurora alerts: SMS Text
FILAMENT ERUPTIONS AND CMEs (UPDATED): Today, at least three magnetic fiements have erupted around the solar disk. This movie from NOAA's GOES-19 satellite shows the two main events:
Newly-arriving coronagraph images from GOES-19 confirm that both of these eruptions produced a CME. One of them is a faint halo CME apparently heading for Earth. ETA: Aug 11/12. The timing could produce auroras during this week's Perseid meteor shower. CME Impact alerts: SMS Text
AND SO IT BEGINS (AURORA SEASON): Around the Arctic Circle, sky watchers have gone months without auroras. Northern Lights are hard to see in round-the-clock summer twilight. Now, they're back. Todd Salat sends this picture from Glennallen, Alaska:
"While photographing noctilucent clouds at 2:40 am on August 7, 2026, a green aurora band appeared," says Salat. "These are the first 'lights' I've spotted this season as darkness slowly falls across the northland. Aurora, game on!"
The display was caused by a minor CME that passed by Earth on Aug. 7th. South-pointing magnetic fields in the CME's wake connected to Earth's magnetosphere, linking the solar storm to our planet. Stay tuned for more as autumn darkness approaches. CME Impact alerts: SMS Text
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"LIVE LONG AND PROSPER" VULCAN EARRINGS: Warning: Giving this gift could trigger an episode of Pon Farr. The Live Long and Prosper Earrings have been to the edge of space onboard an Earth to Sky Calculus cosmic ray balloon. Here they are floating 111,563 feet high:
You can have a pair for $119.95. Supported by gold-plated stainless steel frames, each enamel palm displays the iconic "Vulcan salute."Only four pair have traveled to the edge of space--so quantities are limited. Each set comes with a greeting card showing the earrings in flight, and telling the story of their trip to the stratosphere.
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