FARSIDE ACTIVITY CONTINUES: For the second day in a row, an active region on the far side of the sun is exploding and hurling CMEs into space. Click on the image to view a movie of the latest:
January 14, 2011 Coronal Mass Ejection (click here for movie, not on the photo) Today's eruption was almost as dramatic as yesterday's, and suggests that more eruptions are in the offing.
These explosions are occuring almost directly beneath NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft. An onboard telescope has recorded bright flashes of extreme UV radiation and shadowy shock waves emanating from the blast site (Jan. 13th movie). The telescope has also pinpointed the source: It is located just over the sun's eastern limb. Solar rotation is turning the region toward Earth, so geoeffective solar activity could commence within days. Stay tuned. (I hope this link works correctly!!)
If one of these hits the earth - and they are predicting that a big one is going to between now and 2012 - it will wipe out much of our electronic technology. Including satellite communications (think internet, cell phone, television and so forth) as well as power grids all over the world. This could, no the will be an interesting time whenever it happens (it's going to happen soon or later - no one knows just when!)
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