Intense Solar Activity Continues (Update: Possible Radio Blackouts, Radiation Storms, Auroras)

SpaceWeather.com ^ | Sept 10, 2005 | Staff

[NRA2BFree]

Solar activity remains very high and shows no signs of abating. Sunspot 798/808 has unleashed seven X-class solar flares since Sept. 7th. Forecasters say there's a 75% chance of more X-flares during the next 24 hours, possibly causing radio blackouts and radiation storms.

Coronal mass ejections hurled into space by these explosions could hit Earth's magnetic field in the days ahead. Sky watchers, particularly in northern places like Canada and Alaska, should remain alert for auroras. The best time to look is local midnight. The sun's 27-day rotation is slowly turning sunspot 798 to face Earth. Explosions in the coming week will be increasingly Earth-directed, raising the possibility of geomagnetic storms and auroras over the continental United States, Europe and Australia.

[Mike Darancette]

How can Bush save us from this? I want a Check.

[Socratic]

You can bet I'll have my camera at the ready and will share pics if things work out with me, the Sun and unpredictable magnetic fields!

[Adiemus]

"They sure are hard on cell phone users, like me. I hate dropping calls. :o)"

I'm an amateur radio op. The bands have been horrible for the last few days. I sure wish Bush would move those sunspots away from earth's path. :)

[NRA2BFree]

Thanks for the heads up!

You bet! I hope you take some pictures if you get to see them. Then you can share them with us. :o)

[ruoflaw]

we saw aurora in late October two years ago in NW Central Ohio. We had been having intense solar activity and people saw the aurora in the evening and others reported seeing it when they went to work at 5:30am

[blue running dog]

You sure it was an aurora you saw that night in Flint? If Michael Mooron was in town you could have seen the afterglow of a fart he was lighting in his folk's basement.

[NRA2BFree]

How can Bush save us from this? I want a Check.

Hold on a minute. I'll call FEMA. LOL

[Socratic]

This gives me hope!

[NRA2BFree]

You can bet I'll have my camera at the ready and will share pics if things work out with me, the Sun and unpredictable magnetic fields!

Thanks. Let's hope it works out that you get to see them. :o)

[SierraWasp]

Years ago, when Mrs. Wasp and I took the Ferry across Lake Michigan a few miles north of Milwalkee, it left at midnight. We went up on top to sleep and before I went to sleep it looked like the Captain was shining a searchlight up into the sky and was catching the beam of light on some fog banks, or something!

I kept watching and when the "fog banks" started changing to red, then blue, then GREEN... I suddenly woke up to what I was seeing!!!

We've seen them again here in the Sierra-Nevada range not far from Lake Tahoe on rare occasions.

[Socratic]

I was in Flint, MI about 1974. A high school friend had moved there and I just visted over the weekend. At that time I was blissfully unaware of the bloated idiot.

[SierraWasp]

Hey Norm! Git up on toppa that danged ship yer cruisin upon tanite and LOOK OUT UP!!!

[GregB]

One night back in the 90's The weather Channel had an Aurora alert on the local weather...wow it was something else,since then I have seen them a few more times...It's hard to describe,who said God is dead????

[ruoflaw]

I am in St. Marys and I have a friend that is an amateur astronomer and he has a huge telescope that takes pictures and I bet he is outside right now!

[NRA2BFree]

BUSH KNEW! INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION! NOW!!

Shhhh, don't tell the RATS. Maybe they won't find out about this. They're too busy looking for dirt.....in the water. :o)

[Flyer]

Do you guys ever get to see the auroras in TX?

I think certain flukes of the universe can make them visible here, but I have never seen them.

I saw some ball lighting - or a UFO - once, and that was fascinating.

[metmom]

Auroras are great, when you can catch them. I've only seen two or three by chance. All the other times, I either hear about it the day after or it UNFAILINGLY clouds up. ARGH!!!!

[NRA2BFree]

I'm an amateur radio op. The bands have been horrible for the last few days. I sure wish Bush would move those sunspots away from earth's path. :)

When I call him, I'll put in your request. :o) I bet it is hard on radios. I've always been interested in those radios, but never knew anyone who had one so they could help me. I know there are directions with them but they seem so technical that I've just never done it. I am challenged. lol

[Ken H]

People need to evacuate the area NOW!

[buccaneer81]

in NW Central Ohio.

LOL! Would that be Urbana or Belfontaine?