X3 solar flare, CME on the way....

[Dr Mordrid]

Astronauts on warning, possible comm disruptions, net troubles, power grid surges & aurora. Coronal Mass Ejection contact @ 1400 UT.

[cjolley]

Cool video.
Does it matter which side of the earth is facing the sun when it hits?

[Dr Mordrid]

Sun-side gets it worst, but the geomagnetic storm will affect the whole planet to some degree....satellite comms/internet especially.

The shuttle/ISS crews will of course have to take shelter in their hardened areas to minimize their particle & gamma exposure.

What's weird is that we are approaching the solar minimum, the lowest activity point of the suns 11 year cycle. Even so there have been several major flares recently. From now it ramps up 'til the solar maximum in ~2010-12.

NASA expects this solar maximum to be the most intense since the 1958 maximum, during which aurora could be seen in Mexico

[Elie]

So Doc, when exactly will this mass reach us?

[Dr Mordrid]

As stated in the first post; 1400 UT (Universal Time = Greenwich), so it should have already started.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_time

[VJ]

We usually use the abbreviations "UTC" or "GMT" to indicate Greenwich time.
(in aviation it is called "Zulu")

Interesting though. I always wanted to see aurora borealis, but even if it were to show up here, the light from the cities and roads would prevent up from seeing it.

Jörg

[The PIT]

We usually use the abbreviations "UTC" or "GMT" to indicate Greenwich time.
(in aviation it is called "Zulu")

Interesting though. I always wanted to see aurora borealis, but even if it were to show up here, the light from the cities and roads would prevent up from seeing it.

Jörg

The only time I could have seen it was when I was asleep. My Sister and Brother Law went outside to watch but never bothered to wake me. Probably won't get another chance in my lifetime.

[cjolley]

I remember seeing the one in 1958.
We lived in Omaha Nebraska, so we got a pretty good view.