The Sun sure has been busy.
Today we got an X Class Solar Flare, it has been since 2006 from my understanding, since a X Class Flare has happened.
Besides the X Class Flare, we also had a M Class Flare and 10 C Class Flares - ALL Today! This does not include the M 6 Flare from yesterday.
All the flares are Earth directed.
What does that mean?
In about 3 to 4 days you can expect the Earth to be getting hit hard.
Our magnetosphere has weakened over the last few years and it will definitely be stressed out in about 3 to 4 days.
You can watch the impact of the solar flares on our Magnetosphere and the Earth at this site.
http://www2.nict.go.jp/y/y223/simulation/realtime/index.html
Since we have a weakened magnetosphere, it may be a good idea to unplug electronics in a couple of days. Also watch the above linked site to know when we are getting impacted.
Here is a video someone put together on the X Class Flare - Watch to the end - it shows it. WOW -
Also you will find large earthquakes most of the time, accompany hard hits on our magnetosphere, so don't be surprised if there are some 6 + magnitude quakes during this time either.
I just wanted to get this information just to make people aware. Nothing to get worried about, but simply good information to have.
Update - Spaceweather now has up the fact there was an X Class flare - they said, besides the flare the sun hurled CME towards the Earth also.
X-flares are the strongest type of solar flare, and this is the first such eruption of new Solar Cycle 24. In addition to flashing Earth with UV radiation, the explosion also hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) in our direction. The expanding cloud may be seen in this movie from NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft. Geomagnetic storms are possible when the CME arrives 36 to 48 hours hence. Stay tuned for updates.
A solar flare is an explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in twisted magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) is suddenly released. Flares produce a burst of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to x-rays and gamma-rays. [more information]
Scientists classify solar flares according to their x-ray brightness in the wavelength range 1 to 8 Angstroms. There are 3 categories: X-class flares are big; they are major events that can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. M-class flares are medium-sized; they can cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare. Compared to X- and M-class events, C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth.
UPDATE - 2/15/11 - How typical - NASA took out the pictures of the CME and X class Flare on their Soho site of the Sun!
UPDATE - 2/15/11 - How typical - NASA took out the pictures of the CME and X class Flare on their Soho site of the Sun!
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