BURSTING COMET: Only a few days ago Comet LINEAR (C/2000 WM1) was barely visible. Now it is eye-catching. The southern-hemisphere comet has flared from 6th magnitude on Jan. 26th to 2nd or 3rd magnitude on Jan. 30th. LINEAR passed 0.055 AU from the Sun on Jan. 22nd -- its closest approach to our star. That encounter might have disrupted the comet's icy nucleus, which is now vaporizing in dramatic fashion. Sky watchers south of the equator can see the dynamic comet gliding through the constellation Telescopium.

SOLAR STORM WARNING: Magnetic fields above sunspot 9800 have stretched and twisted in recent days. Now, like a taut rubber band ready to snap back, magnetic lines of force pose a threat for powerful X-class eruptions. An explosion from the active region would likely be Earth-directed as it crosses the center of the Sun today and tomorrow.

Above: a SOHO movie of active region 9800, Jan. 25-30, 2002.

Are you OK? Some are smelling sulfur in your area.

 

Date: January 30, 2002 at 20:31:00 From: Kate, Subject: Sulpher Smell

Don't know where it's coming from, but I was just outside and there was a strong odor of sulpher in the air. Anyone else in Seattle or north of downtown notice this? Just curious.