Radiation from speedy solar flare Sunday night already bombarding Earth; strongest since 2005

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/radiation-from-speedy-solar-flare-sunday-night-already-bombarding-earth-strongest-since-2005/2012/01/23/gIQAuZk9KQ_story.html

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, January 23, 1:15 PM

WASHINGTON — The sun is bombarding Earth with radiation from the biggest solar storm in more than six years with more to come from the fast-moving eruption.

The solar flare occurred at about 11 p.m. EST Sunday and will hit Earth with three different effects at three different times. The biggest issue is radiation, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado.



Jan. 19, 2012: A powerful M2-class solar flare erupts from the sun in this image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

[spin]

1. K&R (n/t)

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Maybe last night's aurorae were the wave of protons

Visible from northern England, which is pretty rare: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16685364

[lapislzi]

3. Those pesky protons

There goes the neighborhood. Next come the Higgs Bosons and property values will go through the floor.