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25 May ' 03:57
462.3 0.5 Updated: Today at 1044 UT B8 0658 UT May25 0201 UT May25 Updated: Today at: 1000 UT Daily Sun: 25 May 12
A new and possibly
significant sunspot is emergiing at the circled
location. Credit: SDO/HMISunspot number:
96
Updated
24 May 2012
Updated 24 May 2012116
Updated 24 May 2012
1 Kp= 2 5.0 0.2 south Updated: Today at 1047 UT Coronal Holes: 25 May 12
Updated at: 2012 May 24 2200 UTC
Updated at: 2012 May 24 2200 UTC
01 %15 %15 %15 %20 %Friday, May. 25, 2012They came from outer space--and you can have one! Genuine meteorites are now on sale in the Space Weather Store.
PARTIAL ECLIPSE OF THE STRAWBERRY MOON: On Monday, June 4th, the Moon will pass through the shadow of Earth, producing a partial lunar eclipse visible across the Pacific from China to the United States. Get the full story from Science@NASA.
will rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, May 25th, making it the first spacecraft to dock with the ISS. Last night, Dave Blanchard photographed the Dragon chasing the space station across the night sky over Flagstaff, Arizona:
"While the ISS was very bright and clearly visible in this image, the Dragon was very dim," says Blanchard. "It can be seen as a faint streak just below the ISS."
The two streaks will soon be joined. During the early hours of May 25th, the Dragon will approach the docking port on the station's Harmony module. Because this is the Dragon's first visit to the ISS, mission controllers will proceed with caution. A detailed series of navigation and communication tests will be performed before the capsule is allowed to move close enough for astronauts to grab it with the robot arm and connect it to the station.
After docking, the Dragon will remain connected for about three weeks, giving astronauts plenty of time to unload its 1200 lb of supplies and re-load it with used scientific equipment for return to Earth. Reversing the process of connecting the spacecraft to the station, astronauts will use the robotic arm to remove the capsule. The Dragon will then de-orbit and return to Earth under parachutes, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.
Readers, are you ready to see the Dragon? Check Space Weather's for a schedule of flybys over your location.
more images:from Alan Thomas of Central Otago, New Zealand; from Stephen & Matthew Lindner of Ann Arbor, Michigan;
"My daughter Antonia was sitting in just the right place," says Tino Hammid of Los Angeles, California. "The crescent images are created by small holes in the closed window blinds that act as a series of pinhole cameras."
On May 25, 2012 there were24 m2012 KP24 May 280.1 LD--26 m -
24 May ' 07:22
460.0 Updated: Today at 1413 UT C1 1137 UT May24 1137 UT May24 Updated: Today at: 1400 UT Daily Sun: 24 May 12
Updated
23 May 2012
Updated 23 May 2012117
Updated 23 May 2012
Kp= 3 quiet4.2 3.1 Updated: Today at 1416 UT Coronal Holes: 24 May 12
Listen to radar echoes from satellites and meteors, live on listener-supported Space Weather Radio
DRAGON RENDEZVOUS: SpaceX's will rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, May 25th. Because this is the Dragon's first visit to the ISS--indeed, it is the first visit by anycommercial spacecraft--mission controllers will proceed with extreme caution. A detailed series of navigation and other tests will be performed before the capsule is allowed to move close enough to the station for astronauts to grab it with the robot arm and connect it to the Harmony module. (continued below)
Above: The Dragon spacecraft leaves
Earth on May 22. [more]The Dragon will remain connected to the station for about three weeks, allowing astronauts to empty it before loading used scientific equipment inside for the return to Earth. Reversing the process of connecting the spacecraft to the station, astronauts will use the robotic arm to remove the Dragon capsule. The Dragon will then de-orbit and return to Earth under parachutes, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.
Readers, are you ready to see the Dragon? It is visible as it chases the ISS through the night sky. Check Space Weather's
ECLIPSE SUNBEAMS: For many observers, the best part of the May 20th solar eclipse is not what the Moon did to the sun, but rather what it did to the sunbeams. Gaps in clouds, leafy trees, and window shades cast pinhole images of the smiling crescent sun onto all kinds of happy surfaces:
"My daughter Antonia was sitting in just the right place," says of Tino Hammid of Los Angeles, California. "The crescent images are created by small holes in the closed window blinds that act as a series of pinhole cameras."
Many more pictures of the eclipse--from the sun to sunbeams--may be found in our new realtime photo gallery. It's an experimental service, so feel free to . Click on the link below and start exploring:
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23 May ' 21:45
591.6 0.0 Updated: Today at 0435 UT B5 1830 UT May23 Updated: Today at: 2359 UT Sunspot number: 91Kp= 4 unsettled3.2 0.8 Updated: Today at 0436 UT Updated at: 2012 May 23 2200 UTC Updated at: 2012 May 23 2200 UTC05 %05 %Thursday, May. 24, 2012Metallic photos of the sun by renowned photographer Greg Piepol bring together the best of art and science. Buy one or a whole set. They make a stellar gift.
CONTINUED QUIET: For the fourth day in a row, solar activity remains low. None of the sunspots on tthe Earthside of the sun pose a threat for strong flares. NOAA forecasters put the chances of an X-class eruption at less than 1%. Solar flare alerts:
SOLAR WIND SPARKS AURORAS: A high-speed solar wind stream is buffeting Earth's magnetic field, and this is causing intermittent auroras at high latitudes. First contact with the stream on May 22nd turned the sky over Cumbria, United Kingdom, deep purple:
This is not a major space weather event. Nevertheless, more auroras are in the offing. NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% to 20% chance of storms around the poles as the solar wind continues to blow. text, voice
of Clinton County, Michigan; from Steve Irvine of Big Bay, ON, Canada; from Dirk S. Miller of Rice Lake, Wisconsin.
On May 24, 2012 there were -
23 May ' 10:45
653.5 0.1 Updated: Today at 1736 UT B7 1108 UT May23 Updated: Today at: 1700 UT Daily Sun: 23 May 12
Updated
22 May 2012
Updated 22 May 2012121
Updated 22 May 2012
2 quiet Kp= 5 storm4.1 2.0 Updated: Today at 1736 UT Coronal Holes: 23 May 12
Listen to radar echoes from satellites and meteors, live on listener-supported Space Weather Radio.
into orbit, where it is now chasing the ISS around Earth. Docking is expected on May 25th. The Dragon is carrying about 1,200 pounds of supplies (mainly food and clothing) for the crew of the station. The spacecraft can hold 7,300 pounds of material, but because this is a test flight, the manifest was limited.
more images:from Darryl Van Gaal of Horwood Lake Lodge, Timmins, Ontario; from Horace Smith of Clinton County, Michigan, USA
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22 May ' 22:54
670.9 2.2 Updated: Today at 0547 UT C1 0027 UT May23 C1 0027 UT May23 Updated: Today at: 0500 UT Sunspot number: 954 unsettled3.5 1.3 Updated: Today at 0547 UT Updated at: 2012 May 22 2200 UTC Updated at: 2012 May 22 2200 UTC05 %30 %05 %15 %Wednesday, May. 23, 2012It's a once in a lifetime event: the June 5th Transit of Venus across the sun. Watch the world wide webcast sponsored by the Coca-Cola Science Center and NASA.
. Solar activity is low, and likely to remain so for the next 24 hours.
PURPLE SKIES: Earth is entering a high-speed solar wind stream, and this is causing geomagnetic activity at high latitudes. First contact with the stream on May 22nd turned the sky over Cumbria, United Kingdom, deep purple:
"The sky was bright because of twilight, but we could still see these faint auroras," says photographer Jon Cooper.
So far the solar wind has not caused a full-fledged geomagnetic storm, but this could change during the next 24 hours. NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% to 20% chance of storms around the poles as the solar wind continues to blow. Aurora alerts:textvoiceDRAGON SIGHTINGS: NASA officials are calling it a turning point in space exploration. Yesterday, a commercial rocket, SpaceX's Falcon 9, blasted off from Cape Canaveral on a mission to re-supply the International Space Station. As the Falcon 9 roared into the sky, Brent of Orlando, Florida, photographed its fiery exhaust through his backyard telescope:
"What a neat launch!" he says. "I was able to see it from 60 miles away."
The rocket propelled SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft into orbit, where it is now chasing the ISS around Earth. Docking is expected on May 25th. The Dragon is carrying about 1,200 pounds of supplies (mainly food and clothing) for the crew of the station. The spacecraft can hold 7,300 pounds of material for delivery to the station, but because this is a test flight, the manifest was limited.
Are you ready to see the Dragon? It is flying over North America during the hours before dawn. Check Space Weather's Simple Satellite Tracker or your cellphone for sighting opportunities.
On May 23, 2012 there were2012 KT12 May 231.4 LD25 m40.2 LD--1.2 km -
22 May ' 12:21
384.6 4.8 Updated: Today at 1915 UT B4 1414 UT May22 0735 UT Updated: Today at: 1900 UT
Updated
21 May 2012
Updated 21 May 2012
Updated 21 May 2012
3 quiet10.3 2.3 Updated: Today at 1916 UT Coronal Holes: 22 May 12
Listen to radar echoes from satellites and meteors, live on listener-supported Space Weather Radio.
The Moon passed in front of the sun on Sunday, May 20th, producing a deep solar eclipse visible across the Pacific side of Earth. Sunlight dimmed, the air cooled, ordinary sunbeams turned into fat crescents and rings of light. And the sunset was definitely different. Jacob Thumberger sends this picture from Gail, Texas:
Many more pictures of the eclipse may be found in our new realtime photo gallery. It's an experimental service, so feel free to report problems. Start clicking for rings of fire:
[Submit your photos] [NASA video:Solar Eclipse over the USA] -
22 May ' 00:41
375.0 1.1 Updated: Today at 0736 UT B5 0253 UT May22 B5 0253 UT May22 Updated: Today at: 0700 UT Daily Sun: 22 May 12Sunspot number: 1204 unsettled Kp= 4 unsettled12.9 0.9 Updated: Today at 0736 UT Updated at: 2012 May 21 2200 UTC
Updated at: 2012 May 21 2200 UTC20 %10 %25 %Tuesday, May. 22, 2012They came from outer space--and you can have one! Genuine meteorites are now on sale in the Space Weather Store.
QUIET SUN: With no sunspots actively flaring, the sun's x-ray output has flatlined. Solar activity is very low, and likely to remain so for the next 24 hours.
SUNSET CONJUNCTION: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. An exquisitely-slender crescent Moon is passing to the left of Venus. A small telescope pointed at Venus shows that itisacrescent, too. [sky map]
NOON CONJUNCTION: Mercury, Jupiter and the Pleiades are converging for a beautiful three-way conjunction. Unfortunately, it's happening in broad daylight. The two planets and the star cluster are only a few degrees from the sun. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) photographed the encounter on May 22nd:
SOHO uses a coronagraph to block the glare of the sun, revealing what the human eye cannot see. Later today, Mercury and Jupiter will pass in the noon sky less than 1/3rd a degree apart. Join SOHO for a ringside seat
On May 22, 2012 there were19 m68 m -
21 May ' 13:42
367.6 6.4 Updated: Today at 2035 UT B6 1559 UT May21 B6 1559 UT May21 Updated: Today at: 2000 UT Daily Sun: 21 May 12
None of the sunspots
on the Earthside of the sun is actively flaring.
Solar activity is low. Credit: SDO/HMISunspot number:
124
Updated
20 May 2012
Updated 20 May 2012
Updated 20 May 2012
Kp= 2 3.0 1.9 north Updated: Today at 2036 UT Coronal Holes: 21 May 12
Thirty-five new items have just been added to our Meteorite Jewelry collection. Browse the Space Weather Store for something out of this world.
FANTASTIC ECLIPSE: The Moon passed in front of the sun on Sunday, May 20th, producing a deep solar eclipse visible across the Pacific side of Earth. Sunlight dimmed, the air cooled, ordinary sunbeams turned into fat crescents and rings of light. Here is a sample view from Lake Waconia, Minnesota:
"I drove to the lake, and a couple of fishermen were kind enough to drop their lines in the glitter path of the eclipse," says photographer Tyler Burg. "It was a fantastic composition!"
NEW:Space Weather Real Time Image Gallery
more images:from Mike Theiss of New Mexico; from Sze-leung Cheung of Hong Kong; from Jimmy and Linda Westlake of Sundown, Texas; from Joe C. Olsen of South of Justiceberg, Texas; from Elon Gane of El Dorado Springs, MO; from Randy Shivak of Anthem, Arizona; from Phebe Pan of Xinfeng, Guangdong, China; from Bob Kelly of Story City, Iowa; from Tom Wagner of Waterloo, Iowa; from Jacob Silco of Finger Lakes, NY; from Dennis Mammana of Canyon de Chelly, Arizona; from Brett Nickeson of Walnut, Iowa; from Robert Ball of Albuquerque, NM; from Beth Kaeser of San Diego CA; from Elon Gane of El Dorado Springs, MO; from Raven Yu of Marikina City, Philippines;
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20 May ' 20:08
370.7 0.8 Updated: Today at 0257 UT 2307 UT May20 B7 1010 UT Updated: Today at: 2359 UT Daily Sun: 20 May 12
Updated
19 May 2012
Updated 19 May 2012131
Updated 19 May 2012
1 quiet Kp= 3 quiet4.0 1.2 Updated: Today at 0257 UT Coronal Holes: 20 May 12
Updated at: 2012 May 20 2200 UTC
Updated at: 2012 May 20 2200 UTC
10 %10 %25 %01 %01 %Monday, May. 21, 2012Metallic photos of the sun by renowned photographer Greg Piepol bring together the best of art and science. Buy one or a whole set. They make a stellar gift.
INTERPLANETARY SHOCK WAVE: An interpanetary shock wave possibly associated with the M5-class solar flare of May 17th swept past Earth on May 20th around 0200 UT. The shock's arrival caused geomagnetic activity around the poles, and several outbreaks of high-latitude auroras. Images:.
SOLAR ECLIPSE--TODAY!!
On May 21, 2012 there were20 m -
19 May ' 23:06
425.6 4.8 Updated: Today at 0556 UT B4 0549 UT May20 B4 0549 UT May20 Updated: Today at: 0600 UT Sunspot number: 1104 unsettled Kp= 4 unsettled6.4 2.1 Updated: Today at 0557 UT Updated at: 2012 May 19 2200 UTC
Updated at: 2012 May 19 2200 UTC15 %05 %05 %15 %05 %Sunday, May. 20, 2012Thirty-five new items have just been added to our Meteorite Jewelry collection. Browse the Space Weather Store for something out of this world.
On May 20, 2012 there were21 m70 m37655 Illapa Aug 1237 LD--1.2 km
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