Sunspot AR1429 erupts with major X1.1 solar flare

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/320684




By JohnThomas Didymus
Mar 5, 2012 - 2 hours ago in Science

The Sun has erupted once more, after a relatively quiet February. Following the appearance of a new active sunspot AR1429 on March 2, it erupted on March 5 with a major X1-class flare, sending a storm of plasma and charged particles towards the Earth.

Space.com reports that the Space Weather Prediction Center operated by the National Weather Service have classed the latest flare which erupted from the Sun at 11:13 p.m. EST (0413 GMT March 5) an X1.1-class solar flare. The flare erupted from the massive sunspot region AR1429 that has been very active since it first emerged on March 2, 2012. According to Spaceweather.com, solar activity is now high and the sunspot AR1429 is "crackling with strong flares."

Astronomy Now reports that the new sunspot AR 1429 is almost four times the size of the Earth and should be visible in solar scopes and on projected images.

X-class flares are the most powerful of solar storms. According to Universe Today, the weakest flares are B-class, followed by C,M and X flares in order of increasing power. Each step in the scale represents a ten-fold increase in energy output, meaning that an X flare is 10 times stronger than an M flare and 100 times stronger than a C flare.

[Lint Head]

1. So do we go underground?

[NNN0LHI]

4. No, get out a Single Sideband CB radio and talk to someone anywhere in the world

Because that is what usually happens when something like this occurs.

Don

[BumRushDaShow]

2. K&R

[WillyT]

3. So... Does This Mean The Sun Will Be Interrupting Limbaugh Broadcasts ???

[jdadd]

5. Nahhh...I'm thinking this might be his next excuse for his outbursts