Second Biggest Flare Of the Solar Cycle (March 6 2012) : Viral Video
March 8, 2012 by Sean Lynch
Filed under Comedy, Videos, Viral Videos
We are movie, music and comedy nerds here at Watch Out For – there is no arguing that. Not surprisingly, we can get fairly nerdy about other stuff too. At the moment, that nerd interest seems to be heading towards the stars.
No, we aren’t talking about Angelina Jolie’s right leg (although, we have had a peep). We are talking about those shiny things that are above our heads, floating around in the nothingness of space. It’s pretty mind blowing stuff, especially with a few sneaky beers and a game of puff puff pass.
The latest astronical wonder is a trippy one for those freaking out about 2012 and the Mayan Calender. Yes, things are amping up, the Universe is going through its cycle – and, in turn – that effects whats going on with the Earth and its inside and outsides. This includes massive solar flares putting a stand still to our electronic equipment.
NASA have now provided information about the two March 6, 2012 flares (which were set to reach earth on March 8, 2012). The first is traveling faster than 1300 miles per second; the second more than 1100 miles per second. NASA’s models predict that the CMEs will impact both Earth and Mars, and will reach Earth at about 1:25 AM EST on the morning of March 8 (plus or minus 7 hours).
Such a CME could result in a severe geomagnetic storm, causing aurora at low latitudes, with possible disruption to high frequency radio communication, global positioning systems (GPS), and power grids.
Second Biggest Flare Of the Solar Cycle – March 6 2012
The footage above is of the March 6, 2012 X5.4 flare that was captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). One of the most dramatic features is the way the entire surface of the sun seems to ripple with the force of the eruption.
It was so large that it was able to travel across the full breadth of the sun, with the waves moving at over a million miles per hour, zipping from one side of the sun to the other in about an hour.
The current increase in the number of X-class flares is part of the sun’s normal 11-year solar cycle, during which activity on the sun ramps up to solar maximum, which is expected to peak in late 2013.
Everyone, get your Y2K packs undusted, we’re in for one bumpy ride!
Here Comes The Sun, Do Da Doo Doo