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21 May ' 16:14
476.5 Updated: Today at 2307 UT C2 2237 UT May21 C2 2237 UT Updated: Today at: 2300 UT2 3.9 0.8 Updated: Today at 2307 UT Updated at: 2013 May 21 2200 UTC
Updated at: 2013 May 21 2200 UTC50 %50 %20 %10 %30 %30 %40 %Near-Earth asteroid is approaching the Earth-Moon system for a flyby on May 31st. There's no danger of a collision; at closest approach the asteroid will be 3.6 million miles away. Even at that distance, however, the 1.7-mile-wide space rock will be an easy target for mid-sized backyard telescopes. Using a 14-inch Celestron, Alberto Quijano Vodniza of Narino, Colombia took this picture of 1998 QE2 on May 17th:
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21 May ' 08:44
423.6 2.8 Updated: Today at 1536 UT 1041 UT May21 Updated: Today at: 1500 UT Daily Sun: 21 May 13
Sunspot AR1748
has quieted since it unleashed four X-flares last
week. Nevertheless, it still has a delta-class magnetic
field that harbors energy for strong explosions.
Credit: SDO/HMIUpdated
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Updated 21 May 2013
1 3.8 3.5 Updated: Today at 1421 UT Coronal Holes: 20 May 13
When is the best time to see auroras? Where is the best place to go? And how do you photograph them? These questions and more are answered in a new book, Northern Lights - a Guide, by Pal Brekke & Fredrik Broms.
A BIG ASTEROID APPROACHES: Behemoth asteroid 1998 QE2 is approaching the Earth-Moon system for a flyby on May 31st. There's no danger of a collision; at closest approach the asteroid will be 3.6 million miles away. Even at that distance, the 1.7-mile-wide space rock will be an easy target for mid-sized backyard telescopes. Using a 14-inch Celestron, Alberto Quijano Vodniza of Narino, Colombia took this picture of 1998 QE2 on May 17th (click to set the space rock in motion):
The sunlit side of the asteroid will turn more squarely toward Earth during the first week of June. At that time it will reach a maximum brightness of 11th magnitude.
NASA radars will be monitoring the flyby, too. "Asteroid 1998 QE2 will be an outstanding radar imaging target at Goldstone and Arecibo and we expect to obtain a series of high-resolution images that could reveal a wealth of surface features," says radar astronomer Lance Benner of JPL. "Whenever an asteroid approaches this closely, it provides an important scientific opportunity to study it in detail to understand its size, shape, rotation, surface features, and what they can tell us about its origin."
Stay tuned for updates and observing tips.
More auroras are possible tonight as Earth's magnetic field continues to reverberate from the impacts. NOAA forecasters estimate a 20% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on May 20th.
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21 May ' 01:34
384.8 1.0 Updated: Today at 0826 UT 0748 UT May21 C1 0012 UT May21 Updated: Today at: 0800 UT4.1 0.2 north Updated: Today at 0827 UTThey came from outer space--and you can have one! Genuine meteorites are now on sale in the Space Weather Store.
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20 May ' 18:42
381.8 2.9 Updated: Today at 0136 UT C1 2010 UT May20 Updated: Today at: 2359 UTKp= 2 quiet4.3 2.1 Updated: Today at 0136 UT Updated at: 2013 May 20 2200 UTC Updated at: 2013 May 20 2200 UTC01 %01 %15 %Tuesday, May. 21, 2013They came from outer space--and you can have one! Genuine meteorites are now on sale in the Space Weather Store.
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20 May ' 11:40
396.5 5.5 Updated: Today at 1837 UT C9 1506 UT May20 Updated: Today at: 1800 UT Daily Sun: 20 May 13
Updated
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May 2013135
Updated 20 May 2013
2 4.6 2.8 south Updated: Today at 1837 UTWHAT'S IN THE OFFING? A new sunspot is approaching. For the past two days it has been crackling with flares and hurling material over the sun's northeast limb. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed these glowing magnetic loops marking the spot of an M1-class explosion during the early hours of May 20th:
The sunspot is on the sun's farside now, but solar rotation is carrying it in our direction. It a day or so it will emerge into view over the sun's eastern limb. Then, forecasters can evaluate its magnetic field and potential for additional flares. Stay tuned. Aurora alerts:textvoice
HOW TO SEE THE FARSIDE OF THE SUN: If you have an iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, mini iPad or iPad2, you can monitor the farside of the sun. Just download the 3D Sun app for a nearly live 360-degree view of our star.
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20 May ' 04:45
They came from outer space--and you can have one! Genuine meteorites are now on sale in the Space Weather Store.
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19 May ' 22:27
413.9 2.7 Updated: Today at 0517 UT C4 0047 UT May20 C4 0047 UT May20 Updated: Today at: 0500 UT Sunspot number: 1133 8.2 2.9 Updated: Today at 0517 UTMonday, May. 20, 2013Listen to radar echoes from satellites and meteors, live on listener-supported Space Weather Radio.
On May 20, 2013 there were -
19 May ' 16:38
419.0 1.2 Updated: Today at 2327 UT Updated: Today at: 2300 UT14.2 4.4 north Updated: Today at 2327 UT Updated at: 2013 May 19 2200 UTC
Updated at: 2013 May 19 2200 UTC25 %25 %15 %05 %25 %25 %CME IMPACT: A CME hit Earth's magnetic field on May 19th at 2250 UT (3:50 PM PDT). Polar geomagnetic storms and high-latitude auroras are possible in the hours ahead. Stay tuned for updates.
The CME was propelled toward Earth on May 17th by an M3-class solar flare in the magnetic canopy of sunspot AR1748. SOHO took this picture of the CME racing away from the sun at 1500 km/s (3.4 million mph):
1.8 km -
19 May ' 11:18
When is the best time to see auroras? Where is the best place to go? And how do you photograph them? These questions and more are answered in a new book, Northern Lights - a Guide, by Pal Brekke & Fredrik Broms.
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19 May ' 06:17
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