Grinning Gourd Decorates Milky Way

Images

Monday, 31 October 2022

While observing the outer region of the Milky Way galaxy, our Spitzer Telescope captured this infrared image of a cloud of gas and dust that looks like the hollowed-out pumpkins we see every Halloween.

Planetary Positions

24.11.2024 at 10:09:33 UTC

Planet	Longitude
The Sun	02 Sag 37' 12"
The Moon	17 Vir 35' 60"
Mercury	22 Sag 27' 01"
Venus	15 Cap 00' 24"
Mars	05 Leo 09' 49"
Jupiter	18 Gem 03' 03" R
Saturn	12 Pis 45' 40"
Uranus	24 Tau 56' 16" R
Neptune	27 Pis 11' 00" R
Pluto	00 Aqu 05' 12"

Solar Status

BZ Status:	4
Proton Density:	2.74
Proton Speed:	413.3 k/sec
KP Status:	1.67

Type	Nov 24	Nov 25	Nov 26
Active	25%	10%	10%
Minor	15%	5%	5%
Moderate	5%	1%	1%
Strong	1%	1%	1%
Kp Index Prediction
00-03UT	2.67	2.33	1.67
03-06UT	3.33	2.33	1.67
06-09UT	2.33	1.33	1.33
09-12UT	2.00	1.00	1.33
12-15UT	1.67	0.67	1.33
15-18UT	1.33	0.67	1.33
18-21UT	1.33	1.00	1.33
21-00UT	1.33	1.67	1.67
Solar Activity
Solar activity continued at moderate levels with additional M-class flares observed. The first was an M1.1/2n flare at 23/1607 UTC, produced by Region 3901 (S07W07, Cao/beta-gamma). The second event was an M1.1 flare that originated from just beyond the NE limb at 23/1810 UTC, along with a few C-class flares. No obvious CMEs were associated with either of these events. Shortly following the second M-flare, Region 3898 (S15W69, Cao/beta) produced a C5.4 flare at 23/1920 UTC. Coronal dimming was observed in SUVI 195 imagery that correlates to a CME first observed in LASCO C2 imagery at 23/1924 UTC. Limited imagery is available at this time, but a thorough analysis will be conducted as information becomes available to determine if there is an Earth-directed component. Region 3898 was also responsible for several other C-class flares as it made its way towards the west limb.
Solar Wind
Solar wind parameters reflected weak, negative polarity CH HSS influence. Solar wind speeds ranged +/- 25 km/s of 400 km/s. Total field was primarily 7-8 nT, and the Bz component underwent a handful of southward deflections, reaching a minimum of -8 nT. Phi was predominantly negative.
Energetic Particle
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal to moderate levels. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux returned to background levels.

Grinning Gourd Decorates Milky Way

Related Posts

Europa Clipper Begins Journey to Jupiter’s Icy Moon

Ancient Comet Makes Appearance

Ring Around the Mountain

Lead Astromaterial Curation Engineer Salvador Martinez III

NASA’s Earth Information Center at the Smithsonian