Saturday, January 21, 2012

BRACE YOURSELF: Massive solar flare headed toward Earth

Massive solar flare headed toward Earth, may spark celestial light show - Fox News

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

A powerful flare erupted from the sun Thursday, Jan. 19, unleashing a plasma wave that may supercharge the northern lights for skywatchers in high latitudes this weekend.


The solar flare occurred at about 11:30 am EST (1600 GMT) and touched off a massive solar explosion — known as a coronal mass ejection — aimed at Earth, space weather experts and officials said. The charged particles from the sun explosion should reach Earth by Saturday night (Jan. 21), and could amp up northern lights displays when they hit the upper atmosphere.

Editor's note: Brace yourself for significant earthquakes, eruptions, and severe weather for 8-10 days post-impact.


Learn more about the sun's impact on weather and other natural disasters.

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