Sunspot Tosses Plasma Cloud Toward Earth

parallel_prankster writes "The Washington Post reports that a huge sunspot unleashed a blob of charged plasma Thursday that space weather watchers predict will blast past the Earth on Sunday. Satellite operators and power companies are keeping a close eye on the incoming cloud, which could distort the Earth's magnetic field and disrupt radio communications, especially at higher latitudes. The huge blob of charged gas spotted by NASA satellites is speeding toward Earth at more than 2 million mph. The most damaging solar discharges, which are very rare, can move at speeds more than twice that fast. Here's a more detailed article with some animation."

Comments

Could this cut off Facebook access?

[akeeneye]

Oh the humanity!

Re:Could this cut off Facebook access?

[RenderSeven]

It will just cut off any useful Facebook access. Oh, wait... never mind.

Re:Could this cut off Facebook access?

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

I've thought long and hard about my flamebait moderation and I was just like to stop and apologize for implying that posting on Slashdot in the middle of a work day is as much of a waste of time as Facebook. I never meant any harm and I hope we can put this behind us.

Now let's return to our discussion about how much Facebook sucks in this story about a plasma storm.

Re:Mayan Calendar

[darkpixel2k]

Coincidence? Or does this remind you of a scheduled event per the Mayan Calendar anyone?

Hmm...let me check my Mayan calendar...

...hmm...Thursday I have that office party....and next Sunday is your mother's birthday....

uh...nope--no scheduled giant plasma cloud.

Shinku...

[PlatyPaul]

Hadoken!

It is likely to miss

[Cochonou]

If you are interested in such matters, you will follow the Space Weather Prediction Center site. Here is their latest advisory:

SWPC Forecasters have determined that the CME from NOAA Region 1402 near disk center yesterday will likely pass above (north) of Earth. This glancing blow will cause just G1 (Minor) Geomagnetic Storm activity. Look for the first signs of it around 1800Z (1:00 pm EST) on Sunday, January 22, with the bulk of the disturbance to occur Monday, January 23. Watch here for updates.

AAAARHHHH

[j35ter]

We're all gonna die!!!!
*runs to the nearest adult store for shelter*

Re:A question:

[M0j0_j0j0]

Tin foil hat should be enough

Re:A question:

[The Grim Reefer]

What makes for a good shielding for home electronics on such matters? Lead sheets?

Lead sheets crumble and make a mess, and probably won't do you much good. I think a Faraday cage is what you are looking for.

I direct your attention to the Absorption Map

[GodfatherofSoul]

Clearly, Jesus does not like South America, and by implication the pagan parade of sin and debauchery that is Carnivale. Repent!

Pat Robertson

Re:Another sequel to the 1958 hit

[X0563511]

Would this help you take it more seriously?

(really, nothing to worry about anyway. it will just fuck up radio propagation and such)

The upside

[The Grim Reefer]

I think the upside to this is stated at the end of TFA:

Besides sparking pretty auroras, heightened solar activity has a more tangible benefit: It cleans up space junk. As the sun acts up, the Earth’s atmosphere expands, increasing friction on dead satellites, rocket parts and other trash in low Earth orbit, pulling them down.

The amount of debris in Earth orbit “actually decreased during 2011 as solar activity increased toward an anticipated maximum,” NASA’s chief space junk watcher, Nicholas Johnson, wrote in the January issue of the agency’s Orbital Debris Quarterly Newsletter.

Re:who cares?

[X0563511]

Perhaps it's "news for nerds" because it does actually affect nerds?

unit conversion

[ThePeices]

For those that need to know, that plasma cloud is travelling at almost 5.7 billion furlongs/fortnight.