Sun erupts in biggest storm in years

[MIKE BURN]

Quote:

---

Earth in path of solar-ejected cloud



Tuesday, October 28, 2003 Posted: 2:46 PM EST (1946 GMT)





(CNN) -- One of the largest known solar flares erupted from the sun on Tuesday, heralding a storm of superheated gas that could hit Earth within a day or two.



The outburst was classified an X18 flare, making it the third largest on record, according to Paal Brekke, a project scientist with the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a sun-watching satellite mission jointly run by NASA and the European Space Agency.



In comparison, two solar storms observed last week were only X1.2 flares, Brekke said.



Solar flares unleash X-ray blasts and proton showers that have the ability to affect satellite communications and Earth-based electrical systems within minutes.



One X-class burst in March 1989, for example, knocked out power for millions of people in Canada.



Flares are also often associated with coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, eruptions from the sun that, if headed our way, usually reach our planet in two to four days.



The high-energy solar winds produced by a CME can generate geomagnetic storms when they interact with Earth's magnetic field -- often increasing displays of the northern and southern lights.



As this CME is aimed directly toward Earth, it is possible that the geomagnetic activity will be strong enough to disrupt satellite communications or power grids. In recent years, however, satellite and utility operators have devised safeguards that usually prevent or minimize damage from solar storms.



Space weather forecasters expect this particularly fast-moving cloud to arrive Wednesday or Thursday.



Researchers classify solar flares using three categories: C for weak, M for Moderate and X for strong. The largest flare on record, one of two known X20s, occurred on April 2, 2001.



"However, [that] one did not eject an Earth-directed CME as the one today did," Brekke said.



Space weather forecasters say this spate of strong solar flares unusual because it is not following normal patterns of solar behavior. The sun follows an 11-year cycle of activity, with the last peak being around 2000.





The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite

spies the third most powerful solar flare on record,

the bright blip near the sun's middle, on October 28.

---

MIKE

[Sdust]

Interesting I don't really know what to think.

[RonOnGuitar]

There's an animated photo-gif from NASA of the eruption and more info at this link:

SpaceWeather.Com

[Netjams]

I have been following the last storm but this one looks like it may cause some havic



I just glad the sun is still belting them out and not burning out

San Antonio Auto Repair

[bbchris]

Will it knock me off the Internet???

|Blah Blah|Thinking Out Loud|Jane Eliz||Talk Soup |

[MIKE BURN]

Well...as a matter of fact, half of the air-traffic at least in Germany (I can only speak for my local country here ) is on halt today. The interferences by sun-storm have reached a giant amount!



Last night polar-lights were all over Germany and should even increase in intensity tonight!!!!



Anybody else saw them?????



(Polarlights over Germany)

[MIKE BURN]

The polar lights were observed in parts of the U.S. as well...



(Yampa, Colorado

"Wow! What a show!" said Physical Science professor Jimmy Westlake of this northern lights display over northwest Colorado. He took this digital photo October 29 near his home in Yampa.)





(Spokane Valley, Washington

After midnight on October 29, the sky "exploded into a very impressive show of mostly green curtains and rays" over Spokane Valley, Washington, said Bryan Nam, who took this photo with a digital camera.)





England as well.............

[MIKE BURN]

SOLAR ACTIVITY CONTINUES:



Giant sunspot 486 produced another remarkable solar flare on Nov. 2nd at 1725 UT. This one measured X8 on the Richter scale of solar flares. Because the sunspot is nearing the sun's western limb, the blast was not aimed squarely at Earth. Even so, a coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading our way.



Auroras could appear on Nov. 3rd or 4th when the electrified cloud delivers a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field. Also on Nov. 3rd a pair of X-flares have erupted near sunspot 488--at 0130 UT (X2.7) and at 0955 UT (X4.4).

[Seismic Anamoly]

GREAT Pics, Mike....Thanks!!!



Reminds me of an old movie, "The Day Of The Triffids", except all the pretty lights were from a meteor shower....hmmmmmmmmm??!!!!

[bbchris]

Amazing photos Mike!! WOW!

|Blah Blah|Thinking Out Loud|Jane Eliz||Talk Soup |