Largest solar storm in five years to hit Earth Thursday

[Xero]

Updated: Thu Mar. 08 2012 7:18:09 AM

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — After hurtling through space for almost two days, the largest solar storm in five years is due to slam into Earth early today.

Scientists say the massive cloud of charged particles could disrupt utility grids, airline flights, satellite networks and GPS services, especially in northern areas.

The storm started with a massive solar flare early in the week, has been growing as it races outward from the sun, expanding like a giant soap bubble.

When it strikes early today, the particles will be moving at roughly 6.4 million kilometres per hour.

Astronomers say the sun has been relatively quiet for some time, and this storm, while strong, may seem fiercer because Earth has been lulled by years of weak solar activity.

The storm, which is part of the sun's normal 11-year cycle, was expected to arrive here between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Eastern Time and the effects could linger through tomorrow morning.

The storm is also expected to create more noticeable auroras or Northern Lights, which will peak this evening in North America and could dip as far south as the Great Lakes or lower.

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120308/largest-solar-storm-in-years-to-hit-earth-120308/20120308/?hub=MontrealHome

[DJ_Smashon]

WOW this sounds interesting 

[mrtrlt]

Phew. Good thing im on the other side of the world xP

Good luck Peoplez

[Rubber]

should be a good show, cant wait till tonight...

[Nate]

This means i might be able to see the Northern Lights in New Jersey That's incredible!

[RaceRX]

say whaa? Shit better not come near my house :l

[Strato]

good luck

[Dr_dog]

what i heard from my wife (shes working at hospital) all the electric access card doors etc were in lockup because of something messed up the card readers. I think theres something magnetic shit going on it or something

[Ethan]

well its a solar flare coming towards earth and basically anything magnetic possibly wont work and it could interfere with GPS, phones those kind of devices that need  or use sattalite communication... even airports are re-routing to hopefully not have any interference with it.

[Clutch]

2012 is bullshit,
Offtopic : The Mayans calendar didn't have leap year on it. so that means 12/21/12 was supposed to happen 7 months ago. 
Futhermore, if it wasnt for leap years, we'd be in July 2013.

OnTopic: Meh, not a big deal.

[Dan_Nobleman]

The solar flare provides a ESP pulse, fucking with all kinds of electrical signals, thank Linus I'm all wired in.

And Jedi, 12/21/12 isn't going to happen because of leap year. It would've already happened. Plus god won't save people because he doesn't exist.

[badboi787]

Sadly, In london (Not to be confused with London Ontario) we wont get to see the Northern Lights. But it is really cloudy in the night over here though.

And if you don't know what a Solar Flare is, it's basically this (Can't be asked to explain on what is a solar flare):

[Joshy]

I'll check my GPS & magnetic field sensor (compass to you) on my phone now. No aurora borealis though (it's cloudy too, and I wanted to see the full moon).

EDIT: Magnetic field (uT)/decl. 28/48/-2degrees - usually around 45 normally? GPS did totally lose lock once but that might have been something else. When I put my phone next to a metal object, the mag field fluctuates to 8/48/-2degrees.

[Viper]

lucky me i live half way around the world so it not my problem sooooo

good luck guys okay be safe

[droctogonapus]

ppffttt im fine