Radioactive solar blast to hit Earth
[url=http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.8830555556,-77.0163888889&spn=0.01,0.01&q=38.8830555556,-77.0163888889 (NASA)&t=h]NASA[/url] tracks particles moving at 900 miles per second
by Drew Zahn - SOURCE -Published 3|18|2013 - A burst of radioactive solar particles has erupted from the Sun, streaking toward Earth at 900 miles per second, NASA has announced. The event, called a coronal mass ejection, or CME,
while not occurring as frequently as solar flares, is still a common
phenomenon. This time, however, rather than projecting out into space,
it’s headed straight for Earth.
Given the direction and speed of the CME, Science World Report explains, mild to moderate effects may be felt as soon as today.
When a CME strikes the Earth, the traveling body of solar energetic
particles can – on rare occasion – causes a significant enough
geomagnetic storm to disrupt the Earth’s magnetosphere. Results may
include stronger aurorae around the Earth’s magnetic poles, disruption
of radio transmissions and even damage to satellites and electrical
transmission facilities, which could cause power outages.
NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory and ESA/NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory reportedly observed the event, while experimental research models have measured its relative speed.
NASA’s models predict two of its space instruments, the Spitzer and MESSENGER spacecraft,
will be affected by the solar blast, and the space agency has alerted
mission scientists to take steps preventing particle radiation from
damaging on-board instruments.
The Spitzer Space Telescope is
an infrared space observatory launched in 2003 that has returned
stunning photos of distant galaxies to Earth and became the first
telescope in history to visually identify planets in other solar
systems.
MESSENGER, an acronym of MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging, was launched in 2004 and became the first spacecraft ever to orbit the planet Mercury.
Thanks to: http://aworldchaos.wordpress.com