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Another Solar Storm Approaching

Posted by timothy on from the mind-yer-cell-phones-boys-it's-a-killer- dept.

RZG writes: "Aurora might be visible again across the mid-latitude portions of the U.S. and Europe, thanks to the CMEs (coronal mass ejections) associated with two powerful X class solar flares, and some smaller flares. The activity may begin in the next few hours, and last up to several days. The NOAA predicts another G3 class storm. Watch Spaceweather.com, the NOAA's space weather forcast, or this solar activity report for more information. The geomagnetic storm could cause power and satellite failures."

5 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. Re:So... by jabber · · Score: 4

    What matters much is the polarity of the storm. IANA{astro-meteorolgist}, but I recall from a Discovery/Learning Channel show that a solar storm can be north or south polarized.

    If it's in-line with Earth's magnetic field, it tends to just flow around the planet without causing any major issues,

    If it's counter to our natural shielding, it causes spectacular light shows, messes with RF communication, disrupts electrical flow in the power grids (sags, spikes, outages), fries satellites, plays havoc with air traffic control and on-board aircraft systems, and causes people at high altitudes in the north polar regions (Canada and up) to see Yeti, Bigfoot and Elvis.

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    -- What you do today will cost you a day of your life.
  2. hmm by Yarn · · Score: 4

    Solar wind is mostly ionised particles.
    This is a solar wind storm, right?
    Therefor, its an ION STORM...

    ARRAGHG... KEEP THOSE CLICKING GREEN THINGS AWAY FROM ME...
    *is carted off to daikatana rehab, and prescribed 2h of CounterStrike per night*

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    -Yarn - Rio Karma: Excellent
  3. Watch it in Real-Time by rjb73 · · Score: 5

    The ISTP site has a nice page that links to all the instruments that will be studying this in real-time. For those who want to watch the Ionosphere, try the SuperDARN Ionospheric Radars real-time page. (Gratuitious Plug - This is my page).

  4. Picture by yellowstone · · Score: 4
    Check out http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap00 0608.html for a very cool false-color X-ray image of the sun showing "[an] active region generating the explosive events"

    Also watch http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ every day for the astronomy picture of the day (almost always interesting, and sometimes root window art)

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    150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for slashdot.sig (129323052 bytes).
  5. Direct Links to SOHO Observations of the CME by crumley · · Score: 5
    The Solar and Helliospheric Oberservatory (SOHO) has really some really nice observations of this CME, including movies made with various instruments. SOHO orbits at the L! point so that it can make constant observations of the Sun.

    I'm sure glad that they were able to pull SOHO out of its problems, it sure does make some nice observations.

    --
    Preventive War is like committing suicide for fear of death. - Otto Von Bismarck