GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: NOAA forecasters say that minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on Oct.13th when a solar wind stream is expected hit Earth's magnetic field. There's a chance the storm could escalate to category G2 if an off-target CME also grazes Earth. It was launched by a solar tsunami on Oct. 10th.
ENJOY THE BREAD CRUMBS: A dense Cannibal CME hit Earth on Oct. 10th, jolting our planet's magnetic field with a wave of plasma containing more than 100 protons/cc. A strong G3-class geomagnetic storm ensued with bright auroras cascading across Europe as far south as France.
By the time night fell across North America, however, the storm was subsiding. "The US got only bread crumbs this time," says Jessica Fridrich, who send this picture from Duluth, Minnesota:
"The magnetosphere was disturbed so much, even the crumbs were still quite nice," she says.
A Cannibal CME forms when a fast CME overtakes and "snowplows" a slower CME in front of it. That's exactly what happened late last week. Two closely-spaced CMEs left the sun and merged en route to Earth.
Did you miss the show? Next time get a realtime alert from our Space Weather Alert Service. You'll never miss another Cannibal CME.
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THE EASTER ISLAND CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT: You can't buy this on Amazon. Only the Earth to Sky Store has the Easter Island Christmas Ornament from space. Here it is floating at the top of Earth's atmosphere on July 16, 2026:
You can have it for $98.95. Modeled after the iconic stone heads of Easter Island, known as Moai, this ornament adds an element of mystery to any Christmas Tree. For 3 hours, it floated through the stratosphere onboard a cosmic ray research balloon, then parachuted back to Earth, landing near Telescope Peak in Death Valley National Park.
The ornament comes with a full-color gift card showing the Moai in flight. The interior of the card tells the story of its journey to the edge of space and back again.
Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education
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