GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE

[Silent_Bob]

http://www.spaceweather.com/

A CME propelled toward Earth by this morning's X5-class solar flare is expected to reach our planet on March 8th at 0625 UT (+/- 7 hr). Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, who prepared the CME's forecast track, say the impact could spark a strong-to-severe geomagnetic storm. Sky watchers at all latitudes should be alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: text, phone.

A mild geomagnetic storm is already underway, following a lesser CME impact on March 7th around 0400 UT. Shortly after the cloud arrived, a burst of Northern Lights appeared over the US-Canadian border. Shawn Malone photographed the display from the shores of Lake Superior:

MAJOR SOLAR FLARE (UPDATED): Big sunspot AR1429 has unleashed another major flare. This one is the strongest yet, an X5-class eruption on March 7th at 00:28 UT. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the extreme UV flash:

This eruption hurled a bright CME into space, shown here in a movie from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab estimate that the CME will reach Earth on March 8th at 0625 UT (+/- 7 hr), possibly triggering a strong-to-extreme geomagnetic storm. An animated forecast track shows the progression of the fast-moving cloud.

The flare also accelerated energetic protons toward Earth, triggering an S3-class solar radiation storm, in progress. Such a storm is mainly a nuisance to satellites, causing occasional reboots of onboard computers and adding noise to imaging systems.

[Jim Johnson]

Cool, we're going to find out what a strong-to-severe geomagnetic storm is like.

[Silent_Bob]

Maybe it will be another Carrington Event.

[Jim Johnson]

I am unimpressed.
If the next one isn't severe-to-oh my mother fucking god I'm going to have to laugh at solar warnings.

[Tom Sawyer]

Johnson!
If you knew how many hearts were cut out in sacrifice to appease me, you wouldn't be so disrespectful! Haven't you been paying attention to the denizens of the internet... 2012 is the end time!

Sincerely,
Kinich Ahau
Mayan Sun God

[Jim Johnson]

As a god, I understand that your free speech is constitutionally protected; but I do not take kindly to your internet threats.  I shall have my legal representative write you a stern yet scathing rebuke, you Holy Troll, and I shall have to report you to the improper authorities.

[dalebert]

I think this means cell phone coverage is going to go all kablooey for a while and that will suck.

[Jim Johnson]

It's past, good buddy.
You've experienced it, strong-to-severe, 4 million miles per hour, gusting to oblib-e-on.

[dalebert]

Oh, okay. I think that was when Neal couldn't understand what I was saying on the phone and I had to repeat myself. Scary stuph.

[Tom Sawyer]

The next morning my computer with all my e-mails and many very important things would not restart.

It wasn't because of the solar storm, it was cuz Silent Bob and Johnson got me all nervous that we were going to be returned to 1859... I shut everything off the night before to "protect it" and then it wouldn't be start! Eventually it did restart, not sure what that was about. 

[Jim Johnson]

It was probably waiting for a new ghost... some bullshit about programing making computers work when 'skunk works' has been capturing ghosts for 40 years and they hired Bill Murray to make the idea look stupid in the public eye... no problem though, they up/down load new ones threw the internet.

[Free libertarian]

I am unimpressed.
If the next one isn't severe-to-oh my mother fucking god I'm going to have to laugh at solar warnings.

As long as you don't laugh at "Solar Bob warnings" we're cool ! 

[Jim Johnson]

Let us know when Solar Bob is above strong-to-severe.

[Tom Sawyer]

Solar Bob Bobbleheads
now with the built in
Solar Storm Warning Alert Radio

[Russell Kanning]

I didn't do anything special .... I guess nothing happened. It has just been raining the whole time down here.
I would be more worried about Mayan gods taking over your computer next time Tom Sawyer. They distract you then take over your online accounts..