Weather Watchers
Related: About this forumBiggest solar flare since 2017 erupts from sun and Earth is in the firing line
Cross-posted from Science forum
On Oct. 3, the sun released the most powerful solar flare this solar cycle, a colossal X9.05 eruption.
This follows a flare from the same sunspot group on Oct. 1.
Expect auroras this weekend.
https://www.space.com/most-powerful-solar-flare-this-solar-cycle-x-9-earth-firing-line
The solar flare emanated from the sunspot group AR3842, which has made headlines before. On Oct. 1, the same sunspot region fired off a powerful X7.1 solar flare and unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME) a plume of plasma and magnetic field which is currently barreling toward Earth.
An Earth-directed CME did indeed follow the monster flare, space weather forecaster and meteorologist Sara Housseal confirmed in a post on X. This could be excellent news for aurora chasers, as CMEs can trigger geomagnetic storms, which in turn can result in dramatically boosted auroral displays. "As of right now, I would anticipate an impact at Earth late 5th early 6th," Housseal wrote.
The incoming CMEs are expected to hit Earth between Oct. 4 and Oct. 6, possibly triggering widespread auroras.
Downloadable pics from NASA here:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14701/
John1956PA
(3,291 posts)The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) display of January 1938 was spectacular. Years ago, I heard a first-hand witness account of the spectacle.
The Carrington Event of September 1959 put on the greatest auroral display. Richard Carrington, a British astronomer, was one of the first to observe and report the September 1, 1859, solar flare which produced massive auroral displays over the following nights.
usonian
(13,313 posts)Enhanced to show detail and stars. The eyeball view was much darker but clearly an aurora.
central scrutinizer
(12,411 posts)3Hotdogs
(13,305 posts).
usonian
(13,313 posts)Rudy showed up when he heard there would be open bar after the "shoot"
3Hotdogs
(13,305 posts)Then when nobody's looking, they fire up and fire down on California.
Biden tried to keep 'em secret but the secret got out.