Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
Resources
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Newsletters
  • Resource Library
  • Forums
  • Sponsored
Go Premium
Popular Topics
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
  • Project Management
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
View All Topics
Go Premium
After Hours

Gallery: Real threats from space

By Andy Smith June 27, 2011, 11:25 PM PDT

Image
1
of 15

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntNASA scientists are predicting a below average solar cycle beginning in 2011, similiar to the one that existed in 1859 when massive solar storms sent a flare that set fire to some telegraph offices – the communications system at the time. Imagine the problems if that happened today.

n

ntOfficials met last week at the Space Weather Enterprise Forum to keep the world aware and begin to prepare for similar storms and flares that would have a major impact on the Earth’s technology – GPS, satellites, power grids – and even your cell phone. There’s a much bigger threat to our technology than to you.

n

ntRight now, we’re virtually defenseless to a solar flare but NASA scientists are proposing a string of satellites around the sun that could see a major eruption and predict its path. Also under consideration are plans to shut down electrical grids if a potential threat occurs.

n

ntIn this gallery we’ll look at some real solar flares and daily space weather tracking – including a close encounter with an asteroid today.

n

ntCredit: NASA/Martin Stojanovski

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntHere’s the size of the Earth compared to a normal solar flare that occured in March 2010. Fortunately, we’re 93 million miles away from the sun so the odds are very much in our favor.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntThe 1859 super flare is called the “Carrington event” after English astronomer Richard Carrington who was studying sunspots when “blinding white light” suddenly appeared over them in a kidney shape. See his diagram above. 

n

ntThe next day, telegraph offices reported sparks flying that caused some fires, and in some places electrical currents kept the equipment operating even after the batteries were disconnected. Auroras could be seen all over the planet, even in tropical latitudes such as Hawaii. Some were so bright that newspapers could be read at night.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntSolar flares are a very common occurance. This one in 2006 damaged the X-ray Imager, which took this image, onboard NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite. The Carrington event was most likely much brighter.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntIn 1989 a solar flare caused geomagnetic storms that shut down the power system in Quebec for 9 hours.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntHere is a solar flare that occured on June 7, 2011.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntThis amazing aurora was a byproduct of the solar flare as seen in the previous image.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntHere’s a solar flare from February 2011.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntThis solar flare is from December 2010.

Gallery: Real threats from space

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntBoth NASA and the National Oceanic and Atomspheric Administration (NOAA) operate sites that track space weather. Here is an image from the sun on June 27 that shows a “coronal hole.” A solar wind from this hole should reach Earth on July 1 or July 2.

n

ntThere is only one sunspot right now with no threat of a solar flare according to NASA.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntImagine my surprise upon visiting NASA’s spaceweather .com, when I read that asteroid 2011MD was going to fly by the Earth within an hour. Upon further review, it is only about 10 meters wide and should pass about 7,500 miles away – actually not that far. If you’re reading this, we must be OK.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntThis asteroid is just one of 1,237 potentially hazardous space rocks being tracked. The miss distance is tracked by LD which is the distance from the Earth to the moon. 2011 MD came within 0.05 LDs of the Earth. From that perspective, wow.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntThe space weather forecast for June 27 from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.

Gallery: Real threats from space

ntHere’s a chart of sunspots over the past few years. There actually have been many less than usual.

  • After Hours
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Gallery: Real threats from space

    Your email has been sent

Share: Gallery: Real threats from space
Image of Andy Smith
By Andy Smith
  • Account Information

    Contact Andy Smith

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Andy's content

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on X
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on YouTube
  • TechRepublic on Pinterest
  • TechRepublic RSS
Services
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers
Explore
  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Editorial Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page
×