homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Powerful solar flare headed our way set to spark beautiful Northern Lights

Astronomers have surprised a blast of charged solar particles erupting from a massive solarspot, recently. The unleashed X-class solar flare is expected to reach Earth’s magnetic field on Saturday morning (2:52 p.m. EDT). Scientists warrant that there’s a chance temporary disruptions to GPS signals, radio communications and power grids might occur. Of greater interest for most of […]

Tibi Puiu
July 13, 2012 @ 1:32 pm

share Share

False-color image of the recently erupted, powerful X-class solar flare, whose corronal mass ejection is expected to reach Earth's magnetic field this Saturday morning. (c) NASA

False-color image of the recently erupted, powerful X-class solar flare, whose corronal mass ejection is expected to reach Earth’s magnetic field this Saturday morning. (c) NASA

Astronomers have surprised a blast of charged solar particles erupting from a massive solarspot, recently. The unleashed X-class solar flare is expected to reach Earth’s magnetic field on Saturday morning (2:52 p.m. EDT). Scientists warrant that there’s a chance temporary disruptions to GPS signals, radio communications and power grids might occur. Of greater interest for most of us though, is the consequent magnificent display of Northern Lights, slated to extend as far as far south as California and Alabama.

In 2013 the sun will approach the end of its eleven year cycle, which is always followed by X-class solar flares, which might cause communication disruptions as they hit vulnerable satellites. This recent major X-class solar flare serves as an appetizer.

[HOW aurora borealis (Northern Lights) form – VIDEO]

share Share

We Should Start Worrying About Space Piracy. Here's Why This Could be A Big Deal

“We are arguing that it’s already started," say experts.

The most successful space telescope you never heard of just shut down

An astronomer says goodbye to Gaia, the satellite that mapped the galaxy.

Astronauts are about to grow mushrooms in space for the first time. It could help us live on Mars

Mushrooms could become the ultimate food for living in colonies on the moon and Mars.

Dark Energy Might Be Fading and That Could Flip the Universe’s Fate

Astronomers discover hints that the force driving cosmic expansion could be fading

Curiosity Just Found Mars' Biggest Organic Molecules Yet. It Could Be A Sign of Life

The discovery of long-chain organic compounds in a 3.7-billion-year-old rock raises new questions about the Red Planet’s past habitability.

Astronomers Just Found Oxygen in a Galaxy Born Only 300 Million Years After the Big Bang

The JWST once again proves it might have been worth the money.

New NASA satellite mapped the oceans like never before

We know more about our Moon and Mars than the bottom of our oceans.

Astronauts Who Spent 286 Extra Days in Space Earned No Overtime. But They Did Get a $5 a Day "Incidentals" Allowance

Astronauts in space have the same benefits as any federal employee out on a business trip.

Scientists Say the Moon Was Once a Giant Ocean of Molten Rock

China’s Chang’e 6 mission uncovers evidence of a molten lunar magma ocean and a violent ancient impact.

Mars has huge amounts of water hidden beneath its surface — and perhaps life too

There may be an ocean's worth of water trapped inside rocks miles below the surface.