What's Up in Space -- 11 Sep 2001

SOLAR WIND GUSTS: Earth entered a solar wind stream around 11:00 UT (7:00 am EDT) on September 11th.

The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) near Earth is pointing south -- a condition which renders our planet's magnetosphere vulnerable to solar wind gusts. High latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras after local nightfall.

Above: NASA's ACE spacecraft registered an increase in the solar wind velocity around 11:00 UT on Sept. 11, 2001.

SUNSPOT WATCH: An impressive sunspot complex, sprawling 30 Earth diameters from end to end, is crossing the Sun's central meridian today.

Magnetograms of the region reveal a twisted delta-class magnetic field that could harbor energy for powerful X-class solar flares.

Above: These data, spanning September 3rd through 9th, are courtesy of the NASA/ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory.

[link to www.spaceweather.com]

HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED in NOVEMBER 2001....

Asteroid Nov 8th,2001=2001 TC45 29.1 LD 16.6

NOV 2001
BIG SUNSPOT: Sunspot 9690 is not only big -- it stretches 15 Earth diameters from end to end -- it's also menacing. The large and growing spot has a tangled "delta-class" magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful X-category solar flares.

BIG SUNSPOT: Sunspot 9690 is not only big -- it stretches 15 Earth diameters from end to end -- it's also menacing. The large and growing spot has a tangled "delta-class" magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful X-category solar flares.

11/11/11

The red planet Mars and the[color=blue] blue star Regulus have gathered together in the pre-dawn sky for a close conjunction that will be at its best on the morning of Friday, Nov. 11th. Wake up early, look east, and behold the colors..

Earth, the CME is likely to deliver a glancing blow to our planet's magnetic field on Nov. 11th or 12th. This could add to the impact of another CME already en route. The earlier cloud was propelled by a filament eruption (movie) on Nov. 7th and is also expected to deliver a glancing blow on Nov. 11th.

SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS.................