[cogitator]

I don't think we need another blackout today; it's chilly outside.

[rwfromkansas]

nothing is going to happen; nothing ever does with these "scary" solar storms.

[cogitator]

After posting this, I found another thread on it, but since I started this, I thought I should provide a solar image. This one shows the active group that launched the CME on October 22nd that was directed at Earth and which may hit us today just off-center, but the really nasty one is just rotating into view on the left-hand side, beneath the Sun's "equator".

[The Great RJ]

I'm adding more aluminum foil to my hat just in case.

[hispanarepublicana]

You should congratulate yourself for not having titled this thread, "Has Anyone Noticed a Host on the Sun?" It's an infamous FReeper lore thread.

[_Jim]

Historically, it seems that satellite damage is discovered weeks after such events ...

[geege]

All's we need is our wood burning stove, candles, lots of wine and we'll be OK:0)

[_Jim]

Pardon me if I squeeze one of these off: Y-A-W-N ...

- - - - -

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9704/08/solar.flare/

Solar flare heading toward Earth

April 8, 1997
Web posted at: 11:09 p.m. EDT (0309 GMT)

(CNN) -- The sun has produced a storm the likes of which scientists have not seen before, according to a NASA researcher.

The large flare of magnetic energy is expected to hit Earth's upper atmosphere Wednesday afternoon, according to Art Poland, senior scientist with the Solar and Heliosphere Observatory (SOHO) at the Goddard Space Center in Maryland.

SOHO is a relatively new NASA satellite that is pointed at the sun.

The solar flare was formed Monday when the sun generated a giant shock wave of electrified gases called a coronal mass ejection. SOHO photographs show "a flare going off; you see a shock wave leaving (the sun). Basically, it's a tsunami going across the surface of the sun," Poland said in an interview with CNN.

Solar events like this occur every day. Approximately one in 10 heads toward Earth. But this solar flare is about as large as one that destroyed a broadcast satellite in January.

[hispanarepublicana]

Not sure when it's scheduled to air, but wouldn't it be HILARIOUS if this solar storm disrupted broadcast of CBS hatchett job, The Reagans?

[Barnacle]

Thanks for your post.

Check these shots out. There appears to be rift like activity between the two major sunspots.

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime-update.html

Anyone have an opinion on this?

[OXENinFLA]

Shields UP!!!

[buffyt]

I was just telling my husband that algore et al never take solar flares into consideration when they complain about the heat and/or communications problems.

[Az Joe]

Yes, it may be as low as 97 here today! Brrrrr!

[steplock]

Galactic Dust Storm
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/dust_storm_030814.html

Meets Solar Flare of the Century
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2003/s2104.htm

Any good pictures that could portray this probability?
http://www.sfsite.com/grx/orion/dtlg.jpg

is the closest I could find so far. Any good imaginations out there? ;>)

[RonDog]

See also these RELATED threads:

Solar ALERT: Large CME at 3 AM EDT: possiblepower, communications disruptions October 24
			Posted by cogitator On 10/24/2003 7:40 AM PDT with 33 comments NOAA News ^ | 10/24/2003 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Huge Solar Flare! 10/24/03
			Posted by GRRRRR On 10/24/2003 3:50 AM PDT with 45 comments sunspotcycle.com ^ | 10/24/03 | FoxNews, www.sunspotcycle.com
Big Solar Storm Will Hit Earth Friday
			Posted by webber On 10/23/2003 9:03 PM PDT with 131 comments CBC News ^
THE SUNSPOT CYCLE
			Posted by Mike Darancette On 10/24/2003 9:54 AM PDT with 7 comments Marshall Space Flight Center ^ | 10/23/03 | Marshall Space Flight Center

[BurbankKarl]

I have never seen as many stalled cars on the CHP CAD as I have this afternoon....

(California Highway Patrol Online Dispatching)