Solar Storm Warning: Sun Shoots X-Flare Outburst at Earth
By Alan Boyle
A cantankerous sunspot region erupted with a powerful X1.6-class solar flare at just the wrong time Wednesday. The blast was pointing right at us. That means any resulting outburst of electrically charged particles, known as a coronal mass ejection or CME, could have a disruptive effect.
"Initial information suggests that CME is likely associated with this event, but further analysis is underway at this time," the National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center reported on its Facebook page.
Solar storms don't have a significant impact on human health, although high-altitude fliers and astronauts may get an extra dose of radiation. In a worst-case scenario, the storms can deal a blow to orbiting satellites and power grids on Earth. In a best-case scenario, they merely cause heightened auroral displays.
It generally takes a couple of days for the charged particles associated with a CME to make their way to Earth.
The sunspot region is known as AR2158, and it's been acting up over the past few days. Wednesday's flare was detected at about 1:45 p.m. ET and was strong enough to cause a wide-area blackout of high-frequency radio communication for about an hour.
X-class flares represent the most powerful kind of solar blasts (as opposed to medium M-class flares or the lower-energy A, B or C classes). Solar scientists spotted a triple-X outburst in June, but none of those blasts was directed toward Earth.
Check SpaceWeather.com for more on the solar storm, and if there are significant developments, we'll update this item.
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/solar-storm-warning-sun-shoots-x-flare-outburst-earth-n200321
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859
Update from spaceweather.com
STORM WARNING (UPDATED): Among space weather forecasters, confidence is building that Earth's magnetic field will receive a double-blow from a pair of CMEs on Sept. 12th. The two storm clouds were propelled in our direction by explosions in the magnetic canopy of sunspot AR2158 on Sept. 9th and 10th, respectively. Strong geomagnetic storms are possible on Sept. 12th and 13th as a result of the consecutive impacts. Sky watchers, even those at mid-latitudes, should be alert for auroras in the nights ahead.
Glad I am not flying anywhere soon.
I wish I could see an aurora. I also wish I haven't been awake for the past hour and a half. :o
It's rare to see the aurora around here. They don't look as cool as they do farther north. But they are neat to watch.
This was Fairbanks, Alaska last night.....
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BxWN2nMCQAIwoXC.jpg)
https://twitter.com/ExploringBird/timelines/510872994403450880 (https://twitter.com/ExploringBird/timelines/510872994403450880)
Dennis
Wow Dennis....that's some pic.... ;D