Solar Tsunami to Strike Earth Tonight

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Fox News

The Sun's surface erupted early Sunday morning, blasting tons of plasma into interplanetary space -- directly towards the Earth.

That wall of ionized atoms should hit the planet tonight, say scientists, creating a geomagnetic storm and a spectacular light show and possibly threatening satellites in orbit.

"This eruption is directed right at us and is expected to get here early in the day on Aug. 4th," said Leon Golub of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "It's the first major Earth-directed eruption in quite some time."
....

Views of aurorae are usually associated with Canada and Alaska, but even skywatchers in the northern U.S. mainland are being told they can look toward the north Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for rippling "curtains" of green and red light.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/03/spectacular-northern-lights-signals-sun-waking/

---

Sure, I could have gone with a less sensational source, but what would be the fun in that?

I'm in northern Virginia. We had a big solar event about four or five years ago. I heard of people around Great Falls seeing the aurora borealis then, but I didn't see the northern lights in Alexandria. There might be some unusual radio reception too.

I wish skywatchers and DXers well.

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. This is a C class-C-class vs M-class vs X-class solar flares

This is not the big one Ethel



C-class vs M-class vs X-class solar flares

Edited on Tue Aug-03-10 05:55 AM by Ichingcarpenter
Scientists classify solar flares according to their x-ray brightness in the wavelength range 1 to 8 Angstroms.

There are 3 categories: X-class flares are big; they are major events that can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms.

M-class flares are medium-sized; they can cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare.


Compared to X- and M-class events, C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth.



Class
Peak (W/m2)between 1 and 8 Angstroms

C
10-6 < = I < 10-5

M
10-5 < = I < 10-4

X
I > = 10-4



Each category for x-ray flares has nine subdivisions ranging from, e.g., C1 to C9, M1 to M9, and X1 to X9. In this figure, the three indicated flares registered (from left to right) X2, M5, and X6. The X6 flare triggered a radiation storm around Earth nicknamed the Bastille Day event.

[Pathwalker]

2. So, no Northern Lights tonighrt?

I don't wish to be mosquito food unless there's a chance of seeing them.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. I doubt it but these storms won't peak until 2012

So expect them to get stronger until we get an X class.

[Baclava]

32. Northern lights over Lake Superior

http://www.spaceweather.com/

[madrchsod]

3. oh crap i thought this was going to be the big one!

someone always has to spoil the party.....:rofl:

[SpiralHawk]

5. "The Sun will help us." - Mayan teaching

[Duer 157099]

19. Does the classification take into account where the shot is aimed?

I mean, a C-class aimed directly at Earth might be worse than an M-class that is directed in the opposite direction.

Yes? No? :shrug:

[Ichingcarpenter]

37. Yes it does take into consideration

BTW there is another one coming to earth on the 5th.

[femmocrat]

4. We have been having problems with Verizon. They blamed it on "sun spots".

Will these solar flares affect communications?

[Ian David]

9. It depends on %^435645 %%~~~ &^**(&*(*7 )((()90908

[femmocrat]

11. Thank you. I'll be prepared now.

No use spending hours on the phone to India. ;)

BTW: See this link for a better explanation! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x69669

[activa8tr]

27. Sun spots are at an all-time LOW compared to the regular cycles

of sun spots.

Google it...Verizon or whatever is giving you bull sh*t... much more common than sun spots this year.

[Donnachaidh]

7. heheheheheheheheheheheh

I *love* my landline telephone :rofl: :rofl:

[NBachers]

12. Yup- it's my phone of choice when I'm at home

[Lightning Count]

8. Anyone ever see Night of the Comet? nt

[DrDan]

10. break out the duct tape . . . .

[onehandle]

13. Run Away!

[TreasonousBastard]

14. Here ya go for a better source...

http://spaceweather.com/

[Donnachaidh]

21. thanks for the link -- that is so cool! n/t

[riverbendviewgal]

15. I have seen them twice

Awesome....

The first time I thought it was a search light for a grand opening of a store...LOL.

But I knew it couldn't be because I was living in the middle of a forest with very little population.

They dance in the night sky....

So amazing.


Hope you all can see them. I will be on the look out too.

[pengillian101]

30. I got the chance to see one also.

I would love to again in north MN but I wonder what time of night? We had a friend visit us last night in northern MN and he was outside getting stuff from the car and he was already seeing stuff in the sky last night.

It should be full fledged tonight or tomorrow night - I am trying to know what time........?

http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/502*334/5aurora0804.jpg

[Yeahyeah]

16. Hope it don't ignite the Gulf.

[Baclava]

17. I think having a blue sun would be fun

[daleo]

24. Cool

It really brings out the notion of magnetic field lines.

[Baclava]

28. If we had X-ray vision it would look like that

Ultraviolet looks creepy

[Roland99]

18. One of the kings of DX

http://www.dxfm.com/


I tried it for a bit back in 2002 but mostly just focusing on picking up some DTV stations after storm fronts moved thru.

[robcon]

20. I'm looking forward to seeing it tonight.

I hope the 'scattered clouds' in the forecast for NY don't get in the way.

[slackmaster]

22. It's going to be pretty hard to see the Sun even if there are no clouds

Because it will be night.

[activa8tr]

26. DUH LOL !!!!!!

[robcon]

33. Northern lights... I saw them last night.

[slackmaster]

36. I am envious. I've never seen them.

:hi:

[and-justice-for-all]

23. Why is Fucked News citied? BLAH!!!!!

[activa8tr]

25. But why didn't Obama plan for this? Just another indication that he wasn't

"experienced" enough to become President, if he didn't have a plan for this.

The Republicans will be saying this if EVEN ONE satellite drops out for 10 minutes, I'm sure.

[DarthDem]

31. LOL

Well done. :-)

[Baclava]

29. Northern Lights are being sighted now in Europe!

I, for one, welcome our new solar overlords.

[tabasco]

34. Well...been nice knowin' y'all.

See ya' on the flip side.

[Odin2005]

35. I saw them last night in Fargo!

I noticed them while looking outside my living room window in my appartment, which faces north. took me a while to figure out what that creepy green glow, was! :rofl: