Thursday, January 9, 2014

Wondering about a CME.

The sun is flaring up again.  Yep, it is shooting at us here on Earth.  Oh, don't worry, unless you are an astronaut.  You see, the Earth's atmosphere will protect us from most of the effects.  But it may cause extra active "northern lights".  Since the CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) is on the part of the sun facing Earth, it will be shooting charged particles right at us.  The atmosphere, as I said above, will protect us to a degree, the closer to the north poles the less protection you will have.  The particles can easily hit the Earth through the poles.  So, here in North America, the closer you are to the North Pole the more adverse will be the effect.

Back quite a few years ago (not sure, but I believe it was in the 1930's) we took a direct hit here on Earth.  The telegraph operators said that fire came shooting out of their telegraph keys.  When the CME particles hit the wires, it induced a voltage spike and a higher than normal current in the wires.  If we were to get hit that hard in today's world of electronics, communication satellites, and millions of miles of telephone and electric wires and cables, it could reek havoc and cause a lot of damage.  We are so dependent now a days on electronics, that we are now a lot more vulnerable then we were back when the last huge hit occurred.

Just think what all depends on electronics and radio transmissions.  Don't think it would be a good time to fly anywhere.  But don't worry too much, although this CME is four times the width of the Earth, we are still a small, moving target that is about 93 million miles away.  Here is a picture of the sunspots that will break off and become a CME:

As you can see, they are pointing directly at us.  Hope I didn't scare you, but even if I did, I want you to have a great day, you hear?

13 comments:

  1. HA!! That's why I've had 3 light bulbs go out since yesterday...

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    1. It is possible, but not likely. Now, If you lived way up north, it may be.

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  2. Like I said Dizzy done it (he opens your mind)

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    1. Thanks justastick, I love anything about space and our universe. I have telescopes from small 3 inch ones up to a huge 16 inch. Don't get them out as often as I would like, but just love to look up at night.

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  3. I live about 10 degrees from the equator.... guess I'll put that worry on the back burner for now...

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    1. OK, your safe. Now tell me. I always wanted to know. Since the spin effect of the earth is stronger there it would seem to me that it would want to throw you off, so do you weigh less at the equator? But the earth bulges at the equator so should have more gravity effect, so do you weigh more there? Since you are that near it, you should be able to answer my questions. . .

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  4. I'll have to start sleeping under my bed again!

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    1. May be a good idea (grin). Thanks for the laugh, loved your comment.

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  5. I won't be losing too much sleep about this.

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    1. Me neither. Sleep tight. By the way it is 60 degrees at 22:00 tonight and will be in the 70's here tomorrow. Love this kind of winter weather. . .

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  6. You taught me something new...I had never even heard of CME's.

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    1. It was on the news last night. Caused some trouble up north. But the northern lights were fantastic!!

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