GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS--UPDATE: Geomagnetic storms are underway following the impact of a dense CME on Oct. 10th (1516 UTC). Current storm levels are category G3 (Strong). However, the storm is subsiding. Category G2 (Moderate) conditions are likely to prevail as night falls over North America. This could produce naked-eye auroras across northern-tier US states while cameras would be required farther south. Good news: The New Moon will provide dark skies for long exposures.
Shortly after the CME arrived, auroras exploded over Levi, Finland:
"The colors were visible to the naked eye--simply stunning!" says photographer Karsten Berger. "Even rare blue colors were present."
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ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SOLAR FLARE: Sunspot 4549 erupted again today (Oct. 10th @ 1515 UTC), producing an M6.4-class solar flare and a widespread shockwave in the sun's atmosphere:
Above: A difference movie from NOAA's GOES-19 Extreme UV imager
This eruption almost certainly hurled a CME into space. We're still waiting for coronagraph data to confirm and measure the Earth-directed component. Stay tuned! CME impact alerts: SMS Text
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SHATTERED PLANETESIMAL METEORITE PENDANT: When meteorites land on Earth, they usually stay on Earth. This one went back to space. On Sept. 16, 2026, we flew this genuine iron meteorite pendant to the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon:
You can have it for $278.95. Thought to be the remnant of a shattered planetesimal, the original meteorite crashed to Earth in northern Sweden where it was preserved in glacial ice. Jewelers mounted this polished spherical fragment in a sterling silver "planetary rings" frame.
You can tell it's real just by looking. The surface of the sphere is covered with Widmanstätten patterns--interlocking crystals of iron-nickel alloy that grew inside the core of an ancient planetesimal as it cooled over millions of years.
The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space pendants to pay the helium bill for their high-altitude balloon program. Each one comes with a full-color greeting card showing the jewelry in flight.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
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SOUTHERN LIGHTS OVER NEW ZEALAND: Imagine the wake rippling away from a boat speeding across a lake. CMEs create similar ripples in the solar wind as they speed past Earth. On Oct. 9th, ripples from a near-miss CME washed over Earth after nightfall in New Zealand, where Joel C. Ryan took this picture:
"I went up to the top of our local hill here in Bluff, NZ, to get above the huge layer of fog," says Ryan. "You can see Venus and Mercury setting as the aurora australis began to glow above Stewart Island. There is also a ship heading through the fog in Foveaux Strait!"
An even bigger display is possible on Oct. 11th if, as predicted, two better-aimed CMEs hit Earth. Both hemispheres of the planet will be involved if the double-blow produces a full-fledged geomagnetic storm. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
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