On Nov. 12th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched this Milky Way crystal ball to the stratosphere onboard a giant helium balloon. Riding alongside an array of cosmic ray sensors, which the students use to monitor atmospheric radiation, the laser-etched spiral galaxy traveled 34.6 km (113,517 ft) above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California. After the balloon exploded (as planned) the payload parachuted back to Earth, landing in the Inyo Mountains near Death Valley National Park. A team of climbers recovered it two days later.
 
The gift-boxed crystal ball comes with a unique gift card showing the spiral star system floating at the top of Earth’s atmosphere. The interior of the card tells the story of the flight and confirms that this item has been to the edge of space and back again.
 
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