Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Nov 20 - Earth's Magnetic Song

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In this image - a computer simulation being developed at the University of Helsinki - you can see the intricate wave pattern that appears in Earth's magnetic environment during solar storms. Earth is the tiny white dot at the left, within the dark blue half circle. The large arc around Earth represents our planet’s magnetic bow shock. The swirling pattern to the right is the foreshock region where the solar wind breaks into waves. Image via Vlasiator team/University of Helsinki/AGU.

Listen to Earth’s magnetic song
Scientists have created a recording of the eerie ‘song’ that Earth sings when it’s hit by a solar storm. The psychedelic song is more reminiscent of sound effects from a science fiction movie than from a natural phenomenon. Listen here.

Tonight, use Big Dipper to find star Capella 

If you can spot the Big Dipper, you can use its famous pointer stars (which point to Polaris, the North Star) to find the bright golden star Capella in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer. Read more.

Thursday night, for some, 100 meteors in 15 minutes

Thursday night - if you're on the right part of Earth, and are looking at exactly the right time in a dark, clear sky  - you have a good chance of witnessing a brief but very rich outburst of meteors known as the alpha Monocerotids. The predicted rate is 400 meteors per hour. The shower's peak is expected to last just 15 minutes. Memorable and fun! Details here.
EarthSky lunar calendars are back in stock. Order now!

We're guaranteed to sell out. They make awesome holiday gifts. Your support means the world to us and helps us keep going. Purchase here.

Venus and Jupiter getting closer!

View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Peter Lowenstein in Mutare, Zimbabwe, captured this image Monday evening. He wrote: "A break in the weather after the onset of the rains provided a good Southern Hemisphere view of Jupiter (above) and bright Venus (below) getting closer together in the twilight sky. Antares is also faintly visible (lower left)." Thank you, Peter! See more photos of Jupiter and Venus. As seen from all of Earth, these two will have a conjunction - passing only about 3 moon-diameters apart - on November 24. Read more.
Colorado reflection
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Suzanne Kelley of Aurora, Colorado, caught this photo last Sunday at sunset at Cherry Creek State Park. You can see Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds - clouds that look like ocean waves - reflecting in Cherry Creek Reservoir. The famous Rocky Mountains are in the distance. Thanks, Suzanne! 
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