Huge Solar Flare! 10/24/03

http://www.sunspotcycle.com/ ^ | 10/24/03 | FoxNews, www.sunspotcycle.com

[GRRRRR]

SOLAR EXPLOSIONS: Solar activity is high. An intense X5-class solar flare erupted today (Oct. 23rd at 8:35 UT) from sunspot 486 near the sun's southeastern limb.

The explosion hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. See the movie. Although the CME was not Earth-directed, it could deliver a glancing blow to our planet's magnetic field as early as Oct 24th (although the 25th is more likely).

Sunspotcycle.com

Another CME was already en route when this morning's explosion occured. Pictured right, it was launched on Oct 22nd by an explosion near sunspot 484. Forecasters expect it to arrive on Oct. 24th and possibly trigger a strong geomagnetic storm. Sky watchers at middle latitudes should be alert for auroras.

[RightWhale]

We had good aurora this morning. Anybody else have aurora?

[SubMareener]

Are the ISS astronauts/cosmonauts going to get fried?

I believe that they have a shielded module for them to wait out the worst of it. However, they do get a fair dose up there, any way.

[SubMareener]

This should be the most recent view. At this posting, the magnetic field at geosynch orbit had just completed several complete reversals.

[Armed Civilian]

I thought it was hot outside.

[snopercod]

I just felt a disturbance in the force as if a million souls had cried out in pain and were suddenly silenced.

[Redcloak]

We had good aurora this morning. Anybody else have aurora?

Nope. Just lots of thick smoke.

[mewzilla]

That pic makes it look like the sun hocked a loogy :)

[Semper Paratus]

Bush Administration to facing mounting criticism over statements concerning Huge Solar flare

Dean promises to roll back the solar flare his first day in office.

[Billthedrill]

One of my people just accidentally rebooted a server in the middle of the day...would I be considered a bad person if I told the users it was the solar storm?

[snopercod]

Probably a hairball...

[snopercod]

I wonder what the space shuttle astronauts are going to experience?

They're all on the ground in Houston. It's the ones on the ISS that I'm worried about. I keep seeing that scene from James Mitchener's Space (the movie) where a solar flare killed three astronauts.

[snopercod]

I believe that they have a shielded module for them to wait out the worst of it.

It is my understanding that a CME ejects neutrons and hydrogen nuclei (protons), the two most deadly-to-life forms of ionizing radiation.

If that is true, and unless they have a module with 30' of concrete shielding around it, they are in trouble.

Why has NASA not issued a statement on this?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The Sun's energy comes from thermonuclear reactions (converting hydrogen to helium) in the core, where temperatures range from 15 to 25 million degrees. The energy radiates through the middle layer, then bubbles and boils to the surface in a process called convection. Charged particles, called the solar wind, stream out at a million miles an hour.

Northern Lights

Seeing Double: Astronomers Amazed at Two Huge Sunspots

[Semper Paratus]

unless they have a module with 30' of concrete shielding around it, they are in trouble.

Probably the biggest risk of a manned Mars flight.

[RightWhale]

The ISS is inside the van Allen Belts, so is shielded from the worst. Besides, it's just an M-class, happens all the time at sunspot maximum. It's unusual in this part of the solar sunspot cycle.

[snopercod]

SOHO view of Friday's Coronal Mass Ejection. Photo: SOHO/LASCO (ESA & NASA)

[_Jim]

saying that cell phone service

An oft repeated saw that is without basis ...

[mewzilla]

Why has NASA not issued a statement on this?

Nah, never mind. My asbestos unmentionables are in the wash.

[_Jim]

A geomagnetic storm in 1989 "blacked out" the power distribution system for Quebec, Canada,

The lesson to be learned here:

Don't be importing substantial portions of your required electrical power over Hi-tension Transmission lines during periods of known geomagnetic storms - you risk 'transformer core saturation' due to DC induced on long sets of lines ...

[snopercod]

Neutrons are stopped by the van allen belt?