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Posted: Feb 17 2011 01:33 am

Quote:

The biggest solar blast in four years erupted late Monday, and it’s sending jets of charged particles right at Earth. The flare will spark bright auroras when it hits the magnetosphere in the next 24 to 48 hours.

A cluster of sunspots called Active Region 1158 unleashed the flare at 8:50 p.m. EST, Feb. 14 [1:50 a.m. UT, Feb. 15]. The flare was classified as a class X2.2, meaning it is the most powerful flare since December 2006. The sunspots have continued to let loose smaller flares and may still be active now.

NOAA forecasters estimate a 45 percent chance of geomagnetic activity on Thursday, Feb. 17, when the bulk of the radiation hits Earth’s magnetic field. It may create a stunning display of aurora borealis, better known as northern lights. So look up! If you take pictures, send us your best shots. If we get enough, we’ll create a reader gallery.

http://current.com/technology/92999558_giant-solar-blast-headed-for-earth.htm

you kids up north will get a very nice light show on the 17th. and some of us down south might get some of those lights as well:

Quote:

The most powerful solar flare in four years exploded over the sun late Monday, according to NASA.

The magnetic instability that caused the flare also unleashed a blast of charged particles that should hit Earth's atmosphere tonight, possibly sparking auroras farther south than usual, experts say.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/110216-largest-biggest-solar-flare-sun-sunspot-1158-science-space-nasa/

pretty cool stuff IMO

Posted: Feb 17 2011 01:50 am

The fuckin' universe just owns sometimes. I love this type of stuff.

Posted: Feb 17 2011 02:25 am

yeah the lightshows are really what is best about the universe.

Posted: Feb 17 2011 10:09 pm

I was lucky enough to be camping out in Denali National Park during the biggest Aurora display of the (last) decade. I was by myself, at least a good twenty miles away from the nearest light source other than my campfire, and the sky was almost literally *on fucking fire* with color and motion. It was almost psychedelic.

Still one of my best Alaska memories.

Posted: Feb 17 2011 10:35 pm

SoldierHawk wrote:

I was lucky enough to be camping out in Denali National Park during the biggest Aurora display of the (last) decade. I was by myself, at least a good twenty miles away from the nearest light source other than my campfire, and the sky was almost literally *on fucking fire* with color and motion. It was almost psychedelic.

Still one of my best Alaska memories.

lucky