Solar flare/CME alert

[Dr Mordrid]

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=19&month=01&year=2012

EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARE:

Active sunspot 1401 erupted today, Jan. 19th, between 15:15 and 16:30 UT. The long-duration blast produced an M3-class solar flare and a CME that appears to be heading toward Earth. This movie from the Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the extreme UV flash: [click through for movie]

NASA's twin STEREO spacecraft recorded an impressive CME emerging from the blast site: movie #1, movie #2. Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab confirm that the CME is heading for Earth, and they say strong geomagnetic storms are possible (although not guaranteed) when the cloud arrives this weekend. Their animated forecast track predicts an impact on Jan. 21st at 22:30 UT (+/- 7 hrs)..

[Fat Tone]

What are the potential effects with that magnitude?

[Dr Mordrid]

Commuications interference, satellite disruptions, large aurora displays, possible power system overloads (not as likely with this class.)

[Fat Tone]

So not the end of the world, but the ISS astronauts will still be bunkering down.

[VJ]

I keep hoping for a chance to see aurora... the images/videos of it just don't seem to do it justice I think... Still, I'm not high enough up north to have any chance at the moment...

[Fat Tone]

I'm with you on that. If I thought there was a good chance of travelling within the UK to see it i'd be there.

[Dr Mordrid]

Not near cities, but in Michigan (lat: 42° 17' 36" here) go 20 miles outside the metro areas and you're into real dak skies where aurora really shine. During solar maximums it can be fun to take a road trip to one of the many state parks where observing areas near parking are plentiful (and used a lot.) Good places to see comets too.