Solar Indigestion

The sun has a delicate stomach, and this week experienced serious indigestion.  Two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) erupted off the sun's surface on Wednesday afternoon.  These solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation, and Wednesday's CMEs took place on the side of the sun facing earth.  Thus a freight train of radiation is rumbling toward our planet and should arrive today.

We are in no danger.  The earth's atmosphere protects us — and will continue to do so unless we destroy it with carbon emissions.  In addition, the earth's magnetic field guides the nasty stuff around us.  However, if a flare and resulting radiation are strong enough, communications and orbiting satellites can take a hit.

The CME as seen by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory,
a joint European Space Agency and NASA project, launched
in 1995.  It is now in the 18th year of its projected 2-year mission.
Not bad for a 610 lb. fancy telescope!

Wednesday's flare as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics
Observatory (SDO).  Launched in 2010 as a follow-on to
SOHO, this 240 lb. spacecraft studies the interaction of
the sun and earth.

The images produced by orbiting observatories are very impressive (see above).  Frankly, I can't think of a better way to spend some of our tax money.  If those who operate multi-million dollar communication satellites are given a heads-up, they can take steps to protect their equipment and investment.  And we can rest assured that our latest email or cell phone text won't end up on Mars.

But I'll miss tonight's light show.  Bummer.

One happy benefit of a solar flare is the Northern Lights.  People living in Canada and the northern U.S. can expect an impressive light show tonight.  Set up lawn chairs and cook the popcorn!  Unfortunately, Presque Isle won't have a very good view.  In fact, no view at all.  Rain is forecast. •••