Cardinal Climax? ------------------------------------ The earth could be hit by a wave of violent space weather as early as Tuesday after a massive explosion of the sun, scientists have warned. The solar fireworks at the weekend were recorded by several satellites, including Nasaâs new Solar Dynamics Observatory which watched its shock wave rippling outwards. Astronomers from all over the world witnessed the huge flare above a giant sunspot the size of the Earth, which they linked to an even larger eruption across the surface of Sun. The explosion was aimed directly towards Earth, which then sent a âsolar tsunamiâ racing 93 million miles across space. ... telegraph.co.uk http://tinyurl.com/25enfno
Too bad I am not in one of the polar regions for the spectacular light show. My understanding is that we have been in an unusually quiet period of solar activity. We also don't understand why. When the pendulum swings back, it could be very hard on earth's climate at least.
That's what happened in the last mini-ice age that ended in the early 1800's. Also, if the Sun should have a large coronal mass ejection aimed our way the Earth's magnetic field couldn't protect us and we could have our atmosphere blown away. Not Good! But then I guess these events are on the rare events list like large astroid impacts and nearby neutron star explosions.
It's 107F today in Moscow, the peat bogs that surround the city are all burning from the natural heat. They have burned an airforce base and 200 planes. The smoke is so bad you can barely breathe. Air conditioners are sold out.
Cardinal Climax FWIW Planetary alignments could affect the sun. http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/2...-puts-stocks-at-risk-says-veteran-sky-watcher http://www.marketwatch.com/story/crawford-says-apocalypse-begins-monday-2010-07-26
or Trading / Hardware - will there be any impact on computers/servers/ISPs ? 'solar storms' if what this is have knocked-out satellites and screw-up navigational systems for aircraft so it's not - at present a purely annecdotal event
As usual the media is hyping this thing. According to NASA it is a C-3 class event - nothing too special. 1859 had the Carrington event - think "noteworthy." http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/06may_carringtonflare/ -g
last night's pictures from solar tsunami http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01aug10_page2.htm?PHPSESSID=lh9dr5rvrbboghpld59frr2lt0