Earth 'in the crosshairs' of a solar explosion

[GG]

A powerful solar flare, hurled into space when superhot gases erupted on the sun Sunday, might cause a display of the aurora borealis for parts of the northern United States overnight Monday night.

The sun unleashed the solar flare yesterday at about 12:30 p.m. EST from a sunspot region that was barely visible last week. Since then, it has grown in size to more than 62,000 miles across — nearly eight times the width of our Earth.

The flare was categorized by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado as a Class M6.6 and is the strongest solar flare observed in 2011. It could ramp up northern lights displays for skywatchers living in northern latitudes and graced with clear skies.

Such a flare, covering more than 1 billion square miles of the sun's surface (called the photosphere), was described as "moderate" in intensity. Class M flares are stronger than the weakest category (Class C). They are second only to the most intense Class X solar flares, which can cause disruptions to satellites and communications systems and pose a hazard to astronauts in space.

NOAA's Prediction Center has forecast the possibility of additional solar flares from the same sunspot region over the next two or three days.

Sun flares are gas pains
Solar flares appear to be caused by a sudden release of magnetic energy. The flare itself occurs in the solar atmosphere, generating a brilliant emission of visible light, as well as ultraviolet waves and powerful X-rays.

With major flares there is a disruption of radio communications shortly after the eruption. Indeed, Sunday's eruption produced a loud blast of radio waves that was heard in shortwave receivers around the dayside of our planet.

But solar flares also can act as a type of explosion that sends streams of electrons and protons out into space. These electrons, protons and other particles are hurled out of the sun's magnetic field in a wave of electrified gas.

As these electrons and protons come into contact with the Earth's magnetic field and stream toward the magnetic poles, the chance of a collision between these charged energy particles and the rarefied gases of the upper atmosphere increases dramatically, producing a disturbance, or "magnetic storm," in the Earth's magnetic field.

Along with causing additional disruptions to radio communications, a magnetic storm might also prompt a view of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, across parts of the northern United States.

But, predicting space weather can be as difficult as predicting the weather on Earth. So there are no guarantees that you'll see anything.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41587712/ns/technology_and_science-space/

[heironymouspasparagus]

I was wondering what that static on the phone was.

Have been discussing this at work.  There have been events in past that have melted wires on the poles (telegraph - mid 1800's) causing miles of failure.  If it should hit a power plant, most of the electronic controls would be destroyed.  Electromagnetic pulse that can melt 8 ga wire out in the country is definitely capable of popping some electronics.  And your car will also stop.


And if we get in the cross hairs of a gamma ray burst from a supernova, it is much worse.  Planet is destroyed.

[Red Arrow]

And if we get in the cross hairs of a gamma ray burst from a supernova, it is much worse.  Planet is destroyed.

Not to worry.  None of us would be left to struggle for survival.

[Conan71]

Crosshairs?  It's Palin's fault!

[nathanm]

Weak sauce, this one.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Nope, not Palin's.  Those are my crosshairs, observed here and created in the universe. 
Very deadly stuff - no life left on this rock.

[Gaspar]

Our days are numbered.  Lets party!

[heironymouspasparagus]

Either 2012, 2019, or date du jour....  anytime is a good time to party!

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!

[GG]

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2011-02-17-aurora-borealis-northern-lights-solar-flare_N.htm

Updated........................ seems it's going to miss us.

Although, the compass in my car seemed to be acting up on the way home from work today.