Sun Approaching Height of 11-Year Storm Cycle
Scientists have detected a major solar flare erupting on the sun that could buffet Earth with a geomagnetic storm today and Friday. The blast of charged solar particles already is producing scattered radio blackouts but is not expected to significantly disrupt telecommunications or electrical power. It might generate a dramatic light show for midnight stargazers in the northern latitudes until early Saturday.
The sun is approaching the height of its 11-year storm cycle. The new storm is estimated to be 20 times stronger than a solar flare in early April. It erupted at midday Tuesday from a cluster of sunspots on the upper left of the sun as viewed from Earth. A powerful X-ray flare ejected an estimated billion tons of charged particles into space. The particles should zap Earth’s magnetic field late Thursday or early Friday. The sunspot cluster could be active another eight days.
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Compiled by Times medical writer Thomas H. Maugh II
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