GROWING QUIET: The chance of another strong flare is decreasing as big sunspot AR1429 decays and turns away from Earth. Our planet's magnetic field is still reverberating from the impact of a CME on March 12th. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for "aftershock auroras" as the storms subside. Aurora alerts: text, phone.

VENUS-JUPITER CONJUNCTION: This is a great week to admire the sunset. Venus and Jupiter are side-by-side only 3^o apart in the western sky, beaming through the twilight as soon as the sun goes down. Photographer Marek Nikodem of Szubin, Poland, recorded the scene at nightfall on March 12th:

"Venus and Jupiter are like two lanterns illuminating the darkness," says Nikodem. "It's a wonderful sight."