X-Class Solar Flare Coming Friday

First time accepted submitter kit_triforce writes Satellites have just detected a powerful X1.6-class solar flare. The source was active sunspot AR2158, which is directly facing Earth. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the extreme ultraviolet flash. Ionizing radiation from the flare could cause HF radio blackouts and other communications disturbances, especially on the day-lit side of Earth. In the next few hours, when coronagraph data from SOHO and STEREO become available, we will see if a coronal mass ejection (CME) emerges from the blast site. If so, the cloud would likely be aimed directly at Earth and could reach our planet in 2 to 3 days.

Comments

Re:Just as long as it's not XK-class.

[Anonymous Coward]

Bad enough as it is. If there is a CME, we could be looking at cascading power failures and riots that will make Ferguson MO look like Mr Rogers Neighborhood. We have no defense against something like this because securing the grid would slightly impact profits. This could be a very good time to own stock in companies like GE or Siemens.

Re:Made in America

[smittyoneeach]

I'd have likely died during the attempt at birth, and taken my mother with me. I'm kind of enamored of modern technology, for some reason.

Wooo!

[funwithBSD]

HAM bands in the VHF range will be opening up! I am going to rig for 10m and 15 and see what happens.

I might a QSO from Europe with a little luck.

Re:Just as long as it's not XK-class.

[citizenr]

Are you rich or retarded? Because those are the two groups of people that immediately link natural disasters with riots.