Monday, March 25

Contents:

1. Geomagnetic Storm Set to Impact Communications Today

2. Upcoming Events

3. Fact of the Day

4. Quote of the Day

5. Word of the Day

A severe geomagnetic storm is on the way, and it could disrupt some communications across Earth. The Sun has a magnetic cycle, and every 11 years its poles switch places. It is now in the most active part of that cycle, a phase called the solar maximum. In this phase, solar storms can happen multiple times per year, while during the solar minimum, there are solar storms about every few years. A G4 strength (the scale goes from 1-5) solar flare is planned to hit Earth's magnetic field today, leading to some disrupted high frequency radio transmissions, which are normally long range transmissions used by aircraft or exploration vehicles. Space tracking may be impacted as well, but there is a good part to it. People living at higher latitudes like Canada or Norway could get the chance to view some striking auroras overnight if the weather permits, and the strength of the storm could allow people at lower latitudes as far south as Washington DC to see the lights in the sky.

Upcoming Events:

• International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (Monday, March 25)

• International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members (Monday, March 25)

• Ash Wednesday (Wednesday, March 27)

• Major League Baseball Opening Day (Thursday, March 28)

• Holy Thursday (Thursday, March 28)

• Good Friday (Friday, March 29)

• International Day of Zero Waste (Saturday, March 30)

• Easter (Sunday, March 31)

Fact of the Day: Photography in and around airports is illegal in Kazakhstan.

Quote of the Day: Time is a created thing. To say “I don’t have time” is to say “I don’t want to.” (Lao Tzu)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Pedantic (adj)- Pedantic describes someone or something that exhibits the characteristics of a pedant—that is, a person who often annoys other people by correcting small errors and giving too much attention to minor details. Pedantic also means “narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned.”

In a Sentence: Their habit of reminding fellow birders that the bird is called a “Canada goose” and not a “Canadian goose” came across as pedantic rather than helpful.