Is this it? The end of the world?

[FinsnFur]

The news channel is telling us there's a solar storm racing towards earth at 4 million miles an hour right now, which they expect to arrive around 5AM EST tomorrow morning and possibly wiping out GPS, communications and power.

Dont forget to leave the light on

[Yote Buster]

I am 55, and ever since I have remember, at least every other Yr. was going to be the End...... .
Well, if it happens, Life was good, If not we just Drive on...    lol...

[weedwalker]

That's what time I gotta be at work. I work outside too. So how should I dress for a solar storm?

[weedwalker]

Moving at 4 million MPH it'll only take about .003 seconds to pass Earth. So the storm won't last long anyway.

[securpro]

Ed the only thing you need to wear is your sunglasses  I'm sure your co-workers wont mind.....

[slagmaker]

Be on teh look out for aurora for the next few days. I am sure Barry will get a heck  of a show, you may as well Jim. I hope they make it this far south and we have clear skys to see them.

[FinsnFur]

Yeah I think they said expect to see the Northern lights as far south as the Great Lakes

[slagmaker]

maybe even farther south. I hope so!
Last time one this big hit Earth you could see aurora all the way to Florida.

[HaMeR]

Well at 4 million MPH I better saddle all my survival gear on the riding mower & get outta Dodge!!!!!!! I should be able to keep juuuuust ahead of it.    Heck i might just stand there & blast away with the 17HMR & save the World!!!!!!!!!!!   


Otherwise I'll just stick to what I been doing. Whatever that is. 


Ed-- You might want to wear your Assteroid Rain Gear. That ARG suit should keep you in good health!!!!! 

[Hawks Feather]

I still have my sunglasses on.  Is it safe to take them off?   

Jerry

[weedwalker]

DAMN!! I was outside at 5 minutes till 5 this morning looking towards the sky for the solar storm. I opted to wear my tinted saftey glasses provided to me by my employer. I didn't want to take any chances of a stray asteroid hitting me in the eyes. I stood there, kind of excited I might add, waiting. And then the worst thing ever happened. I BLINKED and missed it!!!

[slagmaker]

On March 8th at about 1100 universal time the CME struck earths magnetosphere. the resulting solar storm was not nearly as strong as antacipated due to a weaker than expected CME and the interplanatery magnetic field was pointing strongly to the north. This had the effect of canceling out any geoeffective occurences. This could change as the storm could intensify in the hours ahead depending on electromagnetic conditions in the wake of the CME

[coyotehunter_1]

OK... can one of you astro-nuts let me know when it's safe to take off my tin foil hat?     

Right now every time I blink the darn TV changes channels.     

[slagmaker]

If you only blink with one eye at a time you should be able to get the High def channels.

[coyotehunter_1]

Yep, Slag.... that might work 



   

[FinsnFur]

On March 8th at about 1100 universal time the CME struck earths magnetosphere. the resulting solar storm was not nearly as strong as antacipated due to a weaker than expected CME and the interplanatery magnetic field was pointing strongly to the north. This had the effect of canceling out any geoeffective occurences. This could change as the storm could intensify in the hours ahead depending on electromagnetic conditions in the wake of the CME

Holy crap, I cant even decipher all that.

[slagmaker]

not hard to decipher
1100 Universal time is 11 o clock Greenwich mean time
CME is a Coronal Mass Ejection these are actually bits of the surface of the sun
The magnetosphere is the surronding magnitism that the earth generates that helps protect the planet from the ravages of the solar wind
the interplanatery magnetic field is the magnetic field that exists between the sun and planets. This field is govenred by the sun and other planatary bodies in our solar system.
the polarity of the IMF is what decides on how much of the solar wind can get to the surface of the planet or at least to the upper atmosphere. south pointing "think compass" means bigger gaqps in the earths magnetosphere. Bigger gaps stronger magnetic storms.

Its all very scientific Jim. If you would like I can turn yo on to some very cool sites that will explain how it all works

[FinsnFur]

Actually I'm going to have to take a pass on that
It sounds interesting, but

[slagmaker]

space weather is a hobbie of mine.

[KySongDog]

I was not worried.  It's not December 21st yet.