• Comment (3)

Video: 'Monster Sunspot' Emerges

NASA says there’s a 10 percent chance of a massive X-class solar flare within 24 hours

May 10, 2012 RSS Feed Print

A massive "monster sunspot" that's 11 times wider than earth has emerged and started launching strong solar flares, according to NASA.

NASA reported the spot early Thursday morning in what it turning out to be a very busy year for solar weather. In March, two powerful storms may have temporarily shut down military satellites. NASA scientists say the sun will continue to be volatile until the beginning of 2014.

NOAA says it's experienced intermittent radio blackouts and NASA predicts there's a 10 percent chance of a massive "X-class" solar flare erupting within the next 24 hours. X-class flares can cause havoc on civilian satellites and potentially on earth, shorting out electrical systems. Experts are reporting that the sunspot can be seen without the aid of a telescope.

Tags:
NASA

Reader Comments Read all comments (3)

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

NASA recently said, commenting on 'monster sunspot 1476', that 'some irresponsible people' are trying to tie solar developments to the Mayan prophecy. The documents (which NASA has read repeatedly) linked below explain what they are trying to say, but can't.

1. (Published July 1, 2011) https://www.dropbox.com/s/dk7k8txs5ev4shz/TheReturnOfInnocence.pdf

2. (Published April 1, 2012) https://www.dropbox.com/s/bv0tn65b6ly51mw/HyperSpiral.pdf

Michael of MD 4:35PM May 11, 2012

There are preparedness products that are designed to protect electronics from CMEs, EMPS, and the like at empbags.com

Rock Tolman of TX 1:35PM May 11, 2012

No one really knows what an X class CME will do to modern electronics but hopefully we'll be somewhat prepared for it because of space weather being tracked. Hopefully no astronauts are in space when one does happen!

Peter

Blog writer for

http://swarmknowledge.com

Peter Marino of NY 10:44PM May 10, 2012

Photo Galleries

Women on Death Row

Only 12 women have been executed on death row in the U.S. since 1976.

advertisement

Latest Videos