~ Space Weather Update~ Inside a Solar Wind Stream,Chance of Storms

CHANCE OF STORMS: A stream of high-speed solar wind is blowing past Earth. So far the low-density stream is doing little to spark geomagnetic storms. This could change, however, with a shift in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). A south-pointing IMF would allow this fast wind into Earth's magnetosphere, possibly sparking bright auroras. NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on July 20th. Aurora alerts: text, voice.

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: Earth's "noctilucent daisy" is glowing brighter than ever. Seeded by meteor smoke, noctilucent clouds are surrounding the north pole in a luminous circle visible from ground and space alike. Tadas Janušonis photographed this display on July 18th from Vabalninkas in the Birzai district of Lithuania:

"This was the best show in the night sky I've seen this year by far," says Janušonis. "Noctilucent clouds were shining from twilight to dawn."

2013 is shaping up to be a great year for NLCs. The clouds surprised researchers by appearing early this year, and many bright displays have already been recorded. Once confined to the Arctic, NLCs have been sighted in recent years as far south as Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska. They might spread even farther south in 2013.

 

Observing tips: Look west 30 to 60 minutes after sunset when the sun has dipped 6^o to 16^o below the horizon. If you see luminous blue-white tendrils spreading across the sky, you've probably spotted a noctilucent cloud.

Realtime Noctilucent Cloud Photo Gallery
[previous years: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011]

 

EDGE OF SPACE BALLOON UPDATE: A student research balloon launched on a mission to wave at Saturn from the edge of space has landed in a remote area of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. The payload parachuted to Earth near the John Muir Trail and, amazingly, was picked up by a passing hiker who carried it some distance down the trail. We have not yet been in contact with the hiker, but it is possible that he or she actually witnessed the landing. Imagine hiking through the wilderness when a vase of Petunias comes parachuting out of the heavens! Scroll down below this launch image to read more about the payload:

The payload contained three scientific experiments, a vase of Petunias, a copy of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and a Galileo Bobblehead. The items on board were selected competitively from more than 1056 entries suggested by Spaceweather.com readers. First place winners of the competition received free telescopes from Explore Scientific.

One of the experiments aims to measure the height of the tropopause, the coldest layer of Earth's atmosphere. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus want to see if this changes in response to solar flares and radiation storms. The experiment consists of a cryogenic thermometer and a GPS altimeter.

The vase of Petunias is a bouquet for the ringed planet. It honors Saturn's ancient mythology as a god of agriculture. The Petunias are also a reference to the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. Fans of Douglas Adams will understand their significance!

Stay tuned for more information about the balloon's recovery and the experiments it carried. Updates are available on Twitter.

Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet
explanation | more data

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 2.2 nT
B_z: 0.5 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1447 UT

Coronal Holes: 19 Jul 13

Earth is inside a solar wind stream flowing from the indicated coronal hole. Credit: SDO/AIA.