FIRST X-FLARE OF THE NEW SOLAR CYCLE (video at link)

[jakeXT]

FIRST X-FLARE OF THE NEW SOLAR CYCLE: Sunspot 1158 has unleashed the strongest solar flare in more than four years. The eruption, which peaked at 0156 UT on Feb. 15th, registered X2 on the Richter scale of solar flares. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded an intense flash of extreme ultraviolet radiation, circled below:

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http://www.spaceweather.com/

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. So this isn't a M class but an X class?

I thought the one yesterday was a 6.6 M class...

I'm cooking dinner so could you post a little more from the article?

[jakeXT]

2. Korean Satellites had some problems

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4733940





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.
http://www.spaceweather.com/

[jakeXT]

3. two events from the same region

The Monday flare came on the heels of another, only slightly less powerful, class M6.6 flare on Sunday, Feb. 13. Both events erupted from the same area on the sun, called active region 1158.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20110215/sc_space/suneruptswithmostpowerfulsolarflarein4years

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Thanks.... I thought the sucker was acting up last Friday

I expect for more rough 'weather' ahead.

[Odin2005]

5. We might have aurorae tomorrow night.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. BBC reports three Waves hitting Earth Thursday and Friday

Scientists around the world will be watching closely as three eruptions from the Sun reach the Earth over Thursday and Friday.



"Our current view is that the effect of the solar flare is likely to reach Earth later today (Thursday GMT), possibly tomorrow morning," said Alan Thomson, head of geomagnetism at the British Geological Survey (BGS).

He told BBC News: "In the scientific community, there's a feeling that it's not as intense as we first thought it might be. But it's possible still that it could be a large enough event for us to see the northern lights in the UK."

However, weather forecasts suggested cloudy conditions could mar views of any aurorae.

Technological impact
The US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said that three coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were en route as the result of solar flares on the 13, 14 and 15 February (GMT).




http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12493980