STORM2K

If it's dark where you live, look outside. A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress after one (and possibly two) coronal mass ejections hit Earth's magnetic field this morning. Bright auroras have been sighted in Alaska and Canada.

Meanwhile, giant sunspot 720 has unleashed another big solar flare. The X3-class explosion peaked at 0950 GMT (4:50 am EST) on Jan. 17th and hurled a CME in our direction. The many speckles in this SOHO coronagraph image of the CME are caused by protons accelerated to light speed by the blast hitting SOHO's digital camera.

The incoming CME will hit Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 18th or 19th, possibly energizing another geomagnetic storm.


Source: spaceweather.com

senorpepr wrote:If it's dark where you live, look outside. A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress after one (and possibly two) coronal mass ejections hit Earth's magnetic field this morning. Bright auroras have been sighted in Alaska and Canada.

Meanwhile, giant sunspot 720 has unleashed another big solar flare. The X3-class explosion peaked at 0950 GMT (4:50 am EST) on Jan. 17th and hurled a CME in our direction. The many speckles in this SOHO coronagraph image of the CME are caused by protons accelerated to light speed by the blast hitting SOHO's digital camera.

The incoming CME will hit Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 18th or 19th, possibly energizing another geomagnetic storm.


Source: spaceweather.com

I thought this was a solar minimum?

It is, but strong solar flares can happen at any time. Think of it like hurricanes. 1992 was a slow year, but one hurricane was monumental.

A few pics of auroras from this recent solar activity. Check out: http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gall ... _page2.htm for more.


Cleary Summit, Alaska


Duluth, Minnesota


Cook Inlet, Anchorage, Alaska

Good thing its cloudy and I cant see anything here!

How about this view from Ersfjord, Tromsoe, Norway?

Those Pic's are frightenly beautiful.... amazing..

I'm jealous.

I want to see the auroras!