X-Class Solar Flare Inbound--Northern Lights Alert!

[Friends just call me Ross]

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Brian Ottum (astrotopicsdaily on Instagram) told EarthSky: “I’ve been looking at the sun for 46 years and have never seen anything like these brilliant white snakes on the surface of the sun! It’s an X-class solar flare, a major event that could possibly cause planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. To my eye, it looked like the surface cracked open to reveal the blindingly white hot interior. We should expect some northern lights, so pay attention.” 

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Aurora alert!

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a 48-hour magnetic storm watch. By U.S. clocks, the watch began late in the day on October 28, 2021, following an X-flare from a solar active region (AR2887) that took place at 15:35 UTC. The blast created a massive wave of plasma that rippled across the sun’s disk. SpaceWeather.com said a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm is possible on October 30 (that might be Saturday morning, October 30). That’s when the coronal mass ejection (CME) from yesterday’s X1 flare should begin striking Earth’s magnetic field. SpaceWeather said:

Such storms can spark auroras visible to the unaided eye as far south as Illinois and Oregon (typically 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude) and photographic auroras at even lower latitudes. Lesser G1 and G2-class storms could persist through Halloween as Earth passes through the CME’s wake.

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GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A strong G3-class geomagnetic storm is possible on Oct. 30th when the CME from yesterday's X1-flare is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. Such storms can spark naked-eye auroras as far south as Illinois and Oregon (typically 50° geomagnetic latitude) and photographic auroras at even lower latitudes. Lesser G1 and G2-class storms could persist through Halloween as Earth passes through the CME's wake. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.

 

THE CORONAL MASS EJECTION: Here it comes. A coronal mass ejection (CME) launched into space on Oct. 28th by exploding sunspot AR2887 is heading almost directly for Earth. SOHO coronagraphs recorded the CME racing away from the sun faster than 1260 km/s (2.8 million mph):

The movie is full of "snow"--speckles caused by solar protons striking the coronagraph's CCD camera. These particles were accelerated toward the spacecraft (and toward Earth) by shock waves in the leading edge of the CME. Traveling at relativistic speeds, the protons reached us in less than an hour. The CME itself will take more than two days to cross the sun-Earth divide. ETA: Oct. 30th.

THE SOLAR FLARE: Yesterday, Oct. 28th, the sun experienced a global eruption. It began at 1535 UT when sunspot AR2887 unleashed an  X1-class solar flare. The blast created a massive tsunami of plasma that rippled across the entire solar disk:

The plasma wave was about 100,000 km tall and moved through the sun's atmosphere faster than 700 km/s (1.6 million mph). These are also called "Moreton waves," named after American astronomer Gail Moreton who discovered them in 1959. Moreton waves often herald the launch of a CME.

Is sunspot AR2887 finished? Probably not. NOAA forecasters estimate a 60% chance of M-class flares and a 25% chance of another X-flare in the next 24 hours. 

Is it wrong to pray for clear skies?  🤔 😁

[Loopy]

Was it Ezekiel who prayed for rain? 🤣

[Tortuga]

11 minutes ago, Loopy said:

Was it Ezekiel who prayed for rain? 🤣

I always pray for rain for Halloween

[Loopy]

I always hope to a rainy day too. So far we have a 40% chance during the day and 70% at night.

[pnutts]

They changed our forecast removing rain Sunday.  Drats but at least they for now took it out for Monday when I pick up my new to me vehicle. 2018 Ford Edge SEL AWD 3.5 l v6 only 32,000 km ( 20 k miles ) Red, wife likes Red.🌷

[pnutts]

They put rain back in for Sunday evening  70% 

 

Dry Monday when pick up, new to me, car ( SUV  2018 Red Edge SEL AWD ) 🤗

 

Get snow tire near end of week. Like to go visit son and granddaughter next weekend.

That is snow country. Used to be 3rd weekend of Nov was 1st major storm of season and also circuit assembly

( now different date - earlier and not at Assembly Hall at Norval/Halton Hills/Brampton in southern ON.

[Lee49]

On 10/29/2021 at 8:37 AM, Tortuga said:

I always pray for rain for Halloween

Years ago on Halloween night my son accidently turned on the front porch lights, yeah, we had the beggars calling at the door! I opened the door and told them politely, "sorry, we don't partake in Halloween " turned off the lights and closed the door! For years after that I made sure the porch light bulbs were unscrewed, just in case they were turned on! 

 

[daydream]

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new to me, car ( SUV  2018 Red Edge SEL AWD

 

 

Red goes well with this SUV. Wifey's got good taste. Wish you both a safe journey and have great time visiting your son and granddaughter. So excited for you.

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by happiness IS

[pnutts]

2018 model only 6 speed automatic but it is All Wheel Drive.

 

years ago when an elder and I were going to go north 50 miles ( near top of the territory )

just as we left town on the icy roads we saw 2 short wheel base 4x4s pretend they were those little wind up spin toys.

They are not true 4 wheel drive, thus drive pushing off kilter and spin this way, spin that way.

 

 

[daydream]

https://youtu.be/xrPLTB2sPzM?t=78

Icy Road Madness 2: The Most Dramatic Winter Driving Captures of 2017-2019

Scary stuff. Once my light weight hatchback went spinning on a wet rain soaked road while my husband was making a turn off into a highway. Scared the daylights out of me. 

 

Spoiler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaplaning

 

..hydroplaning by the tires of a road vehicle occurs when a layer of water builds between the wheels of the vehicle and the road surface, leading to a loss of traction that prevents the vehicle from responding to control inputs. If it occurs to all wheels simultaneously, the vehicle becomes, in effect, an uncontrolled sled. Aquaplaning is a different phenomenon from when water on the surface of the roadway merely acts as a lubricant. Traction is diminished on wet pavement even when aquaplaning is not occurring

 

[pnutts]

Once when wife and I were going from hwy 400 extension ramp onto 400/11 north of Barrie this guy going way too fast spun in and out of traffic barely missed us and we went sliding too. Somehow no accident happened but it was close. This was a very snowy day which melted then froze on the highways.

 

Well enough of highjacking this thread.

 

Can't see display.  Cloudy out.

Edited October 31, 2021 by pnutts