Radiation From Sun’s Solar Whip Is Expected To Reach Earth Today

[n2doc]

Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online

Scientists from NASA have discovered an enormous ‘solar whip’ on the surface of the Sun and have warned that radiation from the phenomenon is heading straight toward Earth, arriving on our doorstep sometime today.

The stunning event was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and, according to a report from Mail Online’s Mark Prigg, video and images of the event were from an earlier date–August 6-8, 2012.

The event shows a very long, whip-like solar filament extending out from the surface of the Sun more than 500,000 miles in a long arc above the star. These filaments are cooler clouds of solar material that are tethered above the Sun’s surface by unstable magnetic forces.

“Towards the end of the video part of the filament seems to break away, but its basic length and shape seem to have remained mostly intact,” NASA said in a statement.


http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112686395/solar-whip-radiation-earth-090412/

[longship]

1. Does this mean aurora tonight?

Gotta check the space weather site.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

2. Reading the site it says:

This will give many in North America a potentially spectacular Aurora Borealis viewing.

Guess it depends on how far North you live.

[longship]

3. Western Michigan

45 miles N of Grand Rapids. Semi-dark sky site. Supposed to be partly clousy tonight.

[Denninmi]

4. Never happens here like they claim.

And, if it does happen in the sky, usually the weather is heavily overcast.

Ah, the joys of Michigan (Detroit area myself).

[Odin2005]

5. I haven't seen an aurora in years here in Fargo.

It's always overcast!!!