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SUNSPOT WATCH:
Two big 'spots, 775 and 776, are crossing the sun
today. Each has a twisted magnetic field that harbors energy
for M-class
solar flares.
In Ocala, Florida, Howard Eskildsen
photographed the pair peeking "through the outer bands of
clouds cast off by tropical storm Arlene."
Warning: The sun, dimmed by clouds, is
so tempting to look at ... but don't. All it takes is one ray
of sunshine beaming through a gap in the cloudcover to really
hurt your eyes. Try these safe
solar observing techniques instead.
BIRD IN SPACE:
In 1923, modern art pioneer Constantin Brancusi
sculpted the Bird
in Space. Last month, the sculpture was sold
at auction for 27 million dollars. Two days ago, it appeared
on the sun.
Well ... "it looked like the Bird in Space,"
says John Stetson
of Falmouth, Maine, who took this picture on June 9th:
In fact, it's a prominence,
a magnetic plume of hot gas about 10 times taller than Earth.
The
resemblence to Brancusi's sculpture was, of course,
coincidental, but the timing was perfect. SOHO has just
announced a new art contest for sun watchers: details.
more images: from
Didier Favre of Los Angeles, CA; from
Cai-Uso Wohler of Winsen/Luhe, Germany;
VENUS RETURNS:
The brightest planet in the solar system, Venus, has
returned to the evening sky. You can see it any night this
month. Step outside at sundown and face west. Venus pops into
view long before the sky grows completely dark.
Venus images: from
William Lim of Singapore; from
Dan Kaufherr of Spicewood, Texas; from
Hector Cintron of San Juan, Puerto Rico;