Sunspot Tosses Plasma Cloud Toward Earth

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Sunspot Tosses Plasma Cloud Toward Earth

Posted by Soulskill on Friday January 20, 2012 @08:36AM from the how-inconsiderate dept.

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."

9 of 94 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Could this cut off Facebook access? by akeeneye · 2012-01-20 08:39 · Score: 5, Funny

Oh the humanity!

--
The man who dies rich dies disgraced. -- Andrew Carnegie
1. Re:Could this cut off Facebook access? by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2012-01-20 10:28 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  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.
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Mayan Calendar by darkpixel2k · 2012-01-20 08:43 · Score: 4, Funny

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.

--
There's no place like ::1 (I've completed my transition to IPv6)
Shinku... by PlatyPaul · 2012-01-20 08:45 · Score: 4, Funny

Hadoken!

--
Misery loves company. Online misery loves unsuspecting random strangers.
It is likely to miss by Cochonou · 2012-01-20 08:47 · Score: 5, Informative

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.
Re:A question: by M0j0_j0j0 · 2012-01-20 08:59 · Score: 5, Funny

Tin foil hat should be enough
Re:Another sequel to the 1958 hit by X0563511 · 2012-01-20 09:14 · Score: 4, Informative

Would this help you take it more seriously?
(really, nothing to worry about anyway. it will just fuck up radio propagation and such)

--
For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
The upside by The+Grim+Reefer · 2012-01-20 09:19 · Score: 5, Interesting

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.
unit conversion by ThePeices · 2012-01-20 09:30 · Score: 4, Informative

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