Progress in Sun modeling

[Royston]

Helioseismology has taken another step, and could have benefits for communications and future space missions. I watched an interview on BBC breakfast whilst having a day off work, the UK involvement was why it was mentioned, very interesting, please see the BBC article below...

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5217080.stm

[Gilded]

"At present, missions like Soho, which has been in operation for 10 years, are unable to show whether a CME is heading for Earth or away from it."

 

Hmm interesting, good thing it's going to change.

[Dan]

wow interesting, how dangerous are CMEs to Earth?

[Spyman]

People on the ground are safe but astronauts, satellites, power grids and other technological gadgets are in trouble.

 

A space storm's impact is measured in nano-Teslas (nT), a moderate storm can be around -100 nT; extreme and damaging storms have been logged at around -300 nT.

 

The 1989 coronal mass ejection that knocked out power to all of Quebec, Canada measured -589 nT.

 

The 1859 perfect storm was estimated to have been -1,760 nT, the telegraph wires suddenly shorted out in the United States and Europe, igniting widespread fires.

 

The Great Storm

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mystery_monday_031027.html

 

Astronauts Sleep in Safety from Solar Flare

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/061213_sts116_solarflare.html

 

Space Station Glitch Possibly Caused by Solar Flare

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/061215_sts115_issflare.html