Solar Flare

[Woodchuck]

The biggest solar flare in four years is supposed to hit earth at 10:00PM EST tonight. There is a possibility that it could affect GPS and radio transmissions. Anyone who is relying on these devices should take note. Unfortunately, I know exactly where I am and it is cold, hard and covered with snow.

[Khagan1227]

Thanks, and welcome to CF!

[Pete7]

Interesting, since you will be in darkness, presumably those on the Western Pacific Seaboard take the direct hit and any satelites high enough to been seen by the sun.

Pete

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Woodchuck.

Thanks for the heads up.

More ➥ http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-...satellite.html

And ➥ http://www.tgdaily.com/space-feature...-earth-tonight

[courageous cat]

Hello & welcome, Good to see another michigander onboard

[Sheriff]

"The Sun has unleashed its strongest flare in four years, observers say.

"The eruption is a so-called X-flare, the strongest type; such flares can affect communications on Earth.

"Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft recorded an intense flash of extreme ultraviolet radiation emanating from a sunspot."

* * *

For the entire article, go to:

BBC News - Sun unleashes huge solar flare towards Earth

[boatman61]

Storm to bring Northern Lights to Britain - Yahoo! News UK

[MarkJ]

Quick! Find a sextant! That'll protect us!

[Tbrad]

So that's what the problem is!!! I guess it's already hit because I went out today and my chain saw wouldn't start!

[Springbok]

Don't tell Al Gore
Clyde

[cdennyb]

It's raining and cold and cloudy so I dont get to see anything. Bummer.

[GordMay]

Solar flares are classified as A, B, C, M or X according to the peak flux (in watts per square meter) of 100 to 800 picometer X-rays near Earth, as measured on the GOES spacecraft.
Each class has a peak flux ten times greater than the preceding one, with X class flares having a peak flux of order 10−4 W/m2.
Within a class there is a linear scale from 1 to 9, so an X2 flare is twice as powerful as an X1 flare, and is four times more powerful than an M5 flare.
Class M & X flares can produce Aurora sightings as far south as Texas.

[CDunc]

Funny, there has been a thread on if Sextants were needed aboard. I wonder how this will change the majority consensus.

[delmarrey]

Here it's just above freezing and raining ice water. Do you think it'll help?
I wish I may, I wish I might. The first flare I see tonight.

Oh, that's right can't see'm at night.

[kenny chaos]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Solar flares are classified as A, B, C, M or X according to the peak flux (in watts per square meter) of 100 to 800 picometer X-rays near Earth, as measured on the GOES spacecraft.
Each class has a peak flux ten times greater than the preceding one, with X class flares having a peak flux of order 10−4 W/m2.
Within a class there is a linear scale from 1 to 9, so an X2 flare is twice as powerful as an X1 flare, and is four times more powerful than an M5 flare.
Class M & X flares can produce Aurora sightings as far south as Texas.

Which one would you recommend for a new guy?
Thanks-
Kenny