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Editor’s Note: This is a message from NASA about an X-class flare due to reach Earth, oh…sometime August 8/9. What will happen? Maybe something, perhaps nothing, yet…it is always wise to be prepared!
Active sunspot AR3386 erupted on Aug. 5th (2221 UT), producing a long-duration X1.6-class solar flare. This is the fifth strongest solar flare of the current cycle in terms of peak X-Ray flux. The flare ionized the top of Earth’s atmosphere and caused a shortwave radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean. Mariners and ham radio operators may have noticed loss of signal and other propagation effects at frequencies below 30 MHz. A CME was hurled into space from the blast site. It is not heading directly for Earth but its flank might deliver a glancing blow on Aug. 8th or 9th, adding its energy to that of another CME already en route. GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH One and perhaps two CMEs could deliver glancing blows to Earth’s magnetic field on Aug. 8th. Both left the sun on Aug. 5th–the first CME launched by an erupting magnetic filament, the second CME launched by yesterday’s X-flare (described above). If both hit, the double blow could cause a G2-class (Moderate) geomagnetic storm with a chance of escalating to G3 (Strong).
Rose Rambles... 