Earth & Space Weather

Magma Blob Beneath Afar Rift In Ethiopia Puzzles Scientists

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Huffington Post - 9/18/13, Becky Oskin

 

magma blob

Erta Ale, active volcano in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia, at dawn. | Getty

 

The Afar Rift in Ethiopia is marked by enormous gashes that signal the breakup of the African continent and the beginnings of a new ocean basin, scientists think.

The fractures appear eerily similar to seafloor spreading centers, the volcanic ridges that mark the boundaries between two pieces of oceanic crust. Along the ridges, lava bubbles up and new crust is created, slowly widening the ocean basin.

More: HuffingtonPost.com

 

 

~ Space Weather Update~ Solar Wind, Harvest Moon

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SOLAR WIND: Earth is passing through a stream of solar wind blowing ~500 km/s. The action of the wind has not yet caused a geomagnetic storm, but it has been enough to spark bright lights around the Arctic Circle. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras tonight. Aurora alerts: text, voice.

HARVEST MOON: The northernn autumnal equinox is only two days away. That makes this week's full Moon the Harvest Moon, the full Moon closest to the beginning of Fall. Louis Suarato sends this picture of the Harvest Moon rising on Sept. 18th over a farm in Buskirk, New York:

"A farmer was very generous in allowing me to capture this view from a hill overlooking his farm," says

Mexico braces for third deadly storm

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The Guardian - Jo Tuckman - 19 September 2013

A bridge in the city Coyuca de Benitez, which collapsed after storms across Mexico.

A bridge in the city Coyuca de Benitez, which collapsed after storms across Mexico. Photograph: Rex
 
Hurricane Manuel makes landfall on back of two torrential storms that have left at least 80 dead across country

Mexico, which is reeling from two storms which left more than 80 people dead, was braced for more devastation on Thursday night after a third made landfall.

~ Space Weather Update~ HARVEST MOON TONIGHT~ Wind Speed 562

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HARVEST MOON TONIGHT: Tonight's full Moon is the "Harvest Moon," the full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Look for it rising in the east at sunset. Swollen by the Moon illusion and reddened by the effect of low-hanging clouds, the rising Harvest moon is often likened to a "Great Pumpkin." Get the full story and a video from Science@NASA.

AWAKENING SUN: After a week of deep quiet, the drowsy sun is waking up. Five new sunspots were numbered on Sept. 17th as the sun hurled a series of CMEs (movie) into space, none Earth directed. One of the new sunspots, AR1486, is crackling with C-class solar flares. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded this C3-flare during the early hours of Sept.18th:

~ Space Weather Update~ LONELY SUNSPOT, QUIET SUN Wind Speed 391

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WATCH OUT FOR THE HARVEST MOON: According to folklore, this week's full Moon is the "Harvest Moon." Find out from Science@NASA what makes it special: full story, video.

LONELY SUNSPOT, QUIET SUN: The sunspot number has dropped to its lowest level of the year. Solitary sunspot AR1841 sits all alone at the center of an otherwise blank solar disk. It is quiet and poses no threat for strong flares:

NOAA forecasters estimate a scant 1% chance of M- or X-class solar flares during the next 24-48 hours. If the forecast holds, the sun will continue a spate of deep quiet that has lasted for more than a week, nearly-flatlining the sun's x-ray output.

Mexico hit by Hurricane Ingrid and Tropical Storm Manuel

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bbc.co.uk - 17 September 2013

Mexico storms kill at least 34 and leave thousands homeless

At least 40 people have been killed in Mexico by two powerful storms battering the country simultaneously, one on its east and another on its west coast.

Hurricane Ingrid sent thousands to shelters on Mexico's eastern Gulf Coast before it was downgraded to a tropical storm just before it made landfall.

It is dumping torrential rains as it moves west-northwest through Tamaulipas state at a speed of 13km/h (8mph).

On the Pacific coast, Tropical Storm Manuel also caused widespread damage.

Twenty-two people were killed in the region, most of them in Guerrero state. The other victims were in Hidalgo, Puebla and Oaxaca.

4 Sky Events This Week: Harvest Moon, Green Giant, and Fall Equinox

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National Geographic - 9/16/13, Andrew Fazekas

 

This week the near full moon acts as a convenient guidepost for finding Uranus. Credit: Starry Night Software/ A.Fazekas

This week after darkness falls the near full moon
acts as a convenient guidepost for finding Uranus.
Credit: Starry Night Software/ A.Fazekas

 

This week two of the brightest planets join forces, and sky-watchers celebrate the change of seasons with a bright full moon.

Saturn and Venus.  Starting on Monday, September 16 after sunset, Venus and Saturn will be having a close encounter that will last most of the week.  Low in the southwest sky, the second planet from the Sun will be the first visible—as the brightest star-like object in the entire heavens.

Harvest Moon 2013: What You Need to Know

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Weather.com - Michele Berger, 9/16/13

 

The Harvest Moon for 2013 happens this Thursday, Sept. 19. (Stefan Seip/Astro Meeting/NASA)

 

Get ready for the Harvest Moon. Depending on where you live on the planet, it’s either Wednesday or Thursday of this week.  

“In traditional skylore, the Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox,” EarthSky reports, “and depending on the year, [it] can come anywhere from two weeks before to two weeks after the autumnal equinox.” For 2013, that changing of the seasons happens on September 22 — just a few days from now.

More: Weather.com

 

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