Yet Another Big Solar Flare 460
philthedrill writes "CNN is reporting that the sun has fired another large solar flare towards Earth. This one could arrive as early as Thursday (Oct. 30th) afternoon. (insert end-of-the-world statement here)."
*Yawn* (Score:5, Funny)
Insert end-of-the-world statement here. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Insert end-of-the-world statement here. (Score:3, Funny)
It's those damn aliens (Score:5, Funny)
Re:It's those damn aliens (Score:5, Funny)
It's those damn aliens = reference explained (Score:3, Interesting)
---
Summary is as follows:
An interstellar trading ship arrived in the moon's orbit two years ago, and the few aliens who have descended to Earth have stayed in their landing craft or at the United Nations building in New York City. When one of the aliens unexpectedly shows up in a Los Angeles tavern, bartender Ed Frazer awakes the next morning with the strangest hang
one quote... (Score:5, Funny)
You know, 'statistical anomaly' is NOT what I want to hear from solar physicists about my particular sun.
Re:one quote... (Score:2, Funny)
Perhaps it's the inter-planetary equivalent of banging on your neighbors wall when they're making too much noise?
Re:one quote... (Score:2, Funny)
Would he say that the probability is astronomically low?
Re:one quote... (Score:2, Troll)
What he meant:
"I don't understand the interactions between solar flares, so I assume that if two big ones happen in the same week, it must be an uncorrelated anomalous miracle of science."
Re:one quote... (Score:4, Insightful)
one simpsons quote (Score:4, Funny)
Re:one Asimov quote (Score:3, Informative)
What to do if the world is ending (Score:3, Funny)
The Sun is firing at us? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Sun is firing at us? (Score:3, Funny)
Is that "no use at all" like the pre-Y2K world-coming-to-an-end kinda way, or like the post-Y2K lot-of-hoopla-over-nothing kinda way?
Re:The Sun is firing at us? (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah I backed up my porn collection too.
Oh God no! (Score:2)
Already here (Score:2, Informative)
Any effects on humans at all? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Any effects on humans at all? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Any effects on humans at all? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Any effects on humans at all? (Score:2, Funny)
One of my co-workers stepped outside right as it hit. His head swelled up and exploded right before us. The rest of his body melted into a pile of bubbling ooze before turning into pure ash and getting blown away by the wind. He was about to get laid off, anyway, so it's not like it really mattered.
So, yes, I guess there is an effect on humans.
I don't know about humans, but... (Score:2)
Tinfoil hats (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tinfoil hats (Score:2)
Re:Tinfoil hats (Score:3, Funny)
That would be a subset of the computer techs. We already know how to make our own tinfoil hats and don't need to pay any stinking salesman who either a) doesn't know how to make them right and uses shoddy tinfoil or b) is a government or Microsoft spy trying to get into our heads by implanting tinfoil-resistant radio transmitters in our hats.
Anyone experience ANY damage? (Score:3, Interesting)
right about now (Score:5, Funny)
Re:right about now (Score:5, Funny)
Re:right about now (Score:4, Funny)
I've loved in rural Kansas. Even experimented with tropical oils. Can't wait to try it with a partner!
Pity (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Pity (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Pity (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Pity (Score:2, Informative)
Yet another loud Sun Fart. (Score:2, Funny)
How far south? (Score:2)
I'm in Toronto and I'm hoping that the northern lights show will keep up until dusk here.
So, who has seen them so far, and how far south are you?
Re:How far south? (Score:2)
Cellphone dead? (Score:2, Funny)
-your sig here
Re: (Score:2)
Another one (story, not flare)? (Score:2)
Re:Another one (story, not flare)? (Score:4, Informative)
Halloween is going to be killer (Score:5, Funny)
This could shape up to be a really amazing Halloween. For some reason, that 80's movie about Halley's comet's tail intersecting the earth and making zombies out of everyone that wasn't in a lead-lined room comes to mind. I, for one, will welcome our new zombie overlord masters.
We don't know squat. (Score:5, Insightful)
Space weather forecasters say this spate of strong solar flares is not consistent with normal solar behavior. The sun, which follows an 11-year activity cycle, has been quieting down since the last peak in 2000.
Although we humans have been looking at the sun since before we climbed out of the trees (and our moms have been telling us not to even longer), it's almost silly to say that any observation of our local star is "not consistent with normal solar behavior." Just how many of those 11-year cycles have been recorded?
If the ancient Chinese were using pinhole solar viewers [stanford.edu] to count sunspots for the past 5000 years, that would be one thing. But as has been posted in every Slashdot story on the subject, we have maybe 200 years of scientific data (of varying quality) out of the sun's five billion year history. Even W's pollsters would tell you that sample size is too small.
Re:We don't know squat. (Score:2, Insightful)
True, but that doesn't stop people from going on and on about global warming based on even less data.
Re:We don't know squat. (Score:4, Informative)
We actually have access to many thousands of years worth of climactic data, thanks to extracted ice cores, data from the ocean floor, and an number of other sources. For starters, have a look at The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute's [whoi.edu] website for more information on the subject.
Interesting thing to watch for: (Score:2)
Re:Interesting thing to watch for: (Score:2, Funny)
Big eal (Score:2, Funny)
CRYSTAL PLANET (Score:2)
Quick, someone discover Endurium fast so we can build a superphotonic starship and get the fuck off of this planet!
Re:CRYSTAL PLANET (Score:2)
ALRIGHT. I want to know who was the jerk who invented such stupid terminology as "Photonic" anything. Thanks to him, we now have Star Trek Voyager goons spouting out bulls**t about "photonic life forms", "photonic energy" and "photonic matrix". Oh, and the proper term for a space ship that travels faster than light is, "SUPERLUMINAL". Remember that, will you?
Re:CRYSTAL PLANET (Score:3, Funny)
Re:CRYSTAL PLANET (Score:3, Funny)
whilst
conj. Chiefly British
While.
[Middle English whilest, alteration of whiles, whiles. See whiles.]
Re:CRYSTAL PLANET (Score:2)
Power grid and BPL (Score:2, Interesting)
I saw some of last night's aurora from my location in SE Arkansas. Anyone else see the aurora?
aurora? (Score:2)
Re:aurora? (Score:2, Interesting)
Aurora pictures from last night [nasa.gov]
The above page has pictures taken in places like Georgia, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas... some *great* views in Colorado, too. Alaska? The entire sky was green and red last night.
It was too windy here ( SF bay area ) for me to have ventured out last night. Ok, I admit, I forgot to look. My view to the north sucks anyway.
Watch the POES site.. (Score:2)
My server is safe (Score:5, Funny)
If anyone needs me I'll be out back holding my hotdog-on-a-stick up real high...
p.s. Anyone else smell coconut burning?
Smallville reference (Score:4, Funny)
Or at least the end of my superpowers! Somebody saaaavveee mmmeeeee...
Not this year (Score:2)
Well, that's moot for another year, thanks to the Yankees and Marlins....
Obligitory BOFH link (Score:2)
Hasn't the Sun... (Score:2)
(it's funny. laugh)
Self-evident reporting (Score:5, Funny)
Space Storm hits; Earth Survives
Which, of course, is amazing news and you certainly wouldn't have known if the alternative had occurred.
I'd provide a link, but like most of the online news outlets they readily change story headlines and content throughout the day. It's completely different now and talks about the current state and the upcoming flare output tomorrow (Friday).
Ah, solar flares (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ah, solar flares (Score:2, Funny)
No doubt what caused this... (Score:2)
Statistical anomaly? More like a bad model (Score:5, Insightful)
A little statistics primer is in order. In order to quote odds on anything, a statistician needs a model, generally based on existing data. When there is an event that's off the charts, it will usually indicate to the scientist (or engineer) that there is a deficiency in their model (or their process is out of control, for manufacturing types). If I were a solas scientist, this event would indicate to me that the model is not adequate for predicting this sort of thing. Which makes sense, since we probably only have 40 years worth of data; you expect to be thrown a curve-ball every now and then.
So I doubt it really is a statistical anomanly; maybe these solar-flare pairs occur every 50 years or so & that's why we haven't seen it before. But either the reporter needs to better explain the meaning of the quote, or the quotee needs to take a basic course on the limits of statistical probability.
Re:Statistical anomaly? More like a bad model (Score:2)
For that reason alone, I doubt that this is as rare an event as some may make it out to be.
Lots of time to prepare! (Score:2)
Luckily our terrestrial weather forcasting (which has a far greater impact on our lives) is a little better. I've had more warning before tornados!
News report... (Score:2)
President George W. Bush commented on the topic claiming that the sun may be in league with known terrorist group Al-Queda. President Bush attempted to stare down the sun in a show of bravery when his eyes were severely burned due to over exposure to UV rays withou
the original report (Score:2)
Ob simpsons (Score:2)
Oh, Jeebus! (Score:2)
Enough already... (Score:2)
Until then, set your browser homepage to SpaceWeather.Com [spaceweather.com] to keep updated.
Vancouver cleared up!!! (Score:5, Interesting)
However it cleared up by evening. I was working late keeping an eye on the Real-Time Aurora Map [noaa.gov] which was looking pretty quiet when all of a sudden almost the entire northern hemisphere is coverd in a big red circle.
Went outside and sure enough, the Northern sky is aglow in blue and red.
Very cool.
Re:Vancouver cleared up!!! (Score:2)
All this great surf... (Score:3, Funny)
I only hope the spirit of Douglas Adams is out there enjoying the show.
Great CNN Headline (Score:5, Funny)
In other news, President George W. Bush as extended the Axis of Evil to include the Sun. "This supposed ally has been flexing its nucular [sic] muscles without U.N. oversight for generations. While small infractions can be overlooked, a direct strike at the U.S. will not be ignored."
Re:Great CNN Headline (Score:3, Funny)
How else is Sun [sun.com] going to resuscitate its market share? If all sorts of pretty flashing lights don't help, then they're doomed.
Sun's just using Microsoft tactics: use our stuff or else.
Now, where's the Justice Department? They should be going after Sun for abuse of monopoly powers; it far outshines any other thermonuclear energy provider that Earth uses.
Re:Great CNN Headline (Score:3, Funny)
The President: C'mon, let me nuke that bastard.
Commander Gilmour: You want to blow up the sun?
The President: Would you really miss it that much?
Re:Great CNN Headline (Score:3, Funny)
If you think a flare is the end of the world... (Score:2)
California Fires and Sunspots (Score:5, Interesting)
uh (Score:2)
No thank you.
For all you environmentalist wackos (Score:2, Troll)
Folks! We've got another big one for you. It seems that while those tree hugging environmentalist wackos have been touting solar energy as being "clean, safe and renewable", the sun has been taking pot shots at the Earth. How's that for "clean, safe and renewable"? Let's face it. These windbags want us to believe their lies about the sun being nice and friendly and we should all hold hands and sing songs. But now the truth is coming out. The sun is a da
Magnetic North shifts 5 This morning (Score:5, Interesting)
Effects (Score:2)
Last night a computer turned on here all by itself sometime during the night. It's never happened before, but it could just be a concidence.
major dilemma! (Score:5, Funny)
Things that make you go "Hmmm..."
Physics of Power Grid Surges (Score:3, Informative)
Check out this article [engineeringmatters.com] for more details on how solar flares cause these surges.
Excerpt:
"If (when) this flow of charged particles and embedded magnetic field collides with the Earth, it dramatically disrupts Earth's geomagnetic field and ionosphere, changing the terrestrial magnetic fields
Obligatory Office Space Quote (Score:2, Funny)
Re:You know... (Score:2)
Definately a step in the wrong direction. We we want her wearing less, not more.
Re: (Score:2, Flamebait)
Re:How long would we last? (Score:2)
Extrapolate from there.
On the surface.. I'd give things about a week.
The oceans a bit longer...
Things freeze quick without any input of energy.
Underground would be your only hope after that.
You won't be around to find out though.
Re:How long would we last? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:How long would we last? (Score:2, Insightful)
I do however think a very very limited number of people could survive in deep mineshafts. Bring down a small nuclear generator, some source of oxygen, lights, canned foods and enough plants and seeds to be able to star
Re:How long would we last? (Score:2)
We would probably need a
Short answer. (Score:2, Offtopic)
Re:Can plasma change Earth's orbit? (Score:3, Interesting)
However, hundreds of tons of our upper atmosphere is ejected into space and, to some degree, carried off downstream in the solar wind, during these events. So, a small part of our planet has it's orbit profoundly altered by these events. The loss rate is modest and partly compensated by acquired material from dust and meteorites. But this could influence atmospheric composition over geologic time. The plum