After a period of very low solar activity NASA predict we are in for a dramatic increase. During periods of high solar activity there are numerous sunspots and solar flares on the surface of the Sun. This means more solar storms will be reaching the earth. This could create havoc with satellite telecommunications, and possibly energy grids leading to black outs. We have had many such solar storms before. The largest recorded in history was the 'superstorm' of 1859:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

There appear to be large solar storms roughly every 40-50 years. In the 20th century there were major solar storms recorded in 1921 and 1960 which affected radio communications. Smaller solar storms happen quite frequently during periods of high solar activity:

http://www.solarstorms.org/SRefStorms.html

However in today's world reliant on technology for the basics of everyday life, increasing levels of solar activity and the flares from the consequent 'space storm' could wreak complete havoc.

Nasa is telling us to prepare for a once in a generation storm which could result in widespread blackouts and leave us without critical communication signals for considerable periods of time.

The overheating of national power grids, mass disruption of air travel and the complete shut down of electronic items, navigation devices and major satellites are just some of the consequences of the sun reaching its maximum power in only a few years time.

As well as this, the bolt of lightning caused by the super storm could bring disastrous consequences for the world emergency service systems, hospital equipment and of course would leave us without our computers, sat navs and ipods.

The worst case scenario would see large parts of the world plunged into darkness for months

Most likely say senior scientists it will last hours and maybe days but this in a world reliant on high tech systems for almost everything we do is likely to have a drastic impact.

ITN News. 15.06.2010

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sc ... rmwarning/

I wonder if the Sun Cycle Chart (Solar Ingress 2010) speaks to this subject with Mars in Leo as reconciler to the Sun/Saturn opposition. I apologize for not being able to post the chart.

Moggy

I wonder if the Sun Cycle Chart (Solar Ingress 2010) speaks to this subject with Mars in Leo as reconciler to the Sun/Saturn opposition. I apologize for not being able to post the chart.

Moggy

Hello Moggy,

Welcome to Skyscript and the mundane forum in particular.

Interesting point. This event could happen this week or years from now. I guess we will never know without looking!

I see you are referring to the Aries Ingress chart. However, for your country a cardinal sign was rising in the ingress chart (Washington DC). Traditionally, therefore we should also look at the Cancer ingress chart ingress too for the USA.

Give me the house system you would like it displayed in and I will be happy to display both charts.

Mark

Ps I assume you are in the USA? Unless you in the other mountainous Georgia in the caucusus mountains!

LOL, MarkC, it's Georgia USA. Thanks for the welcome to this lurker.

Color me Placidus/Tropical/Geo.

Moggy

The Summer Solstice chart appears to not only support the Sun difficulties, but to ramp up the intensity. Saturn's 3rd house appearance in both charts would certainly deprive USA earthlings in the communication department, as well as affecting their health (Virgo). I've just rec'd this email from an herbalist living in Arkansas:

A PUZZLING COLLAPSE OF EARTH'S UPPER ATMOSPHERE

Before you read the link, I have to tell you what has been going on
here with the UV radiation and solar output. My husband has a Davis
Instruments Vantagepro II weather station that monitors temperature,
humidity, wind and rain, it also measures the solar radiation and the
UV index. We have records on the weather readings for the last
10 years. Of interest is the incredible increase of the UV radiation
and the solar radiation. For the last 10 years the highest UV
reading was a 10 and this occurred only in August, the hottest time
of the year here. The alarming thing now is that in June 2010 the
UV began to spike as high as 14. Note: this is a brand new UV
calibrated system upgraded this year! The normal high solar
radiation was 1,000 to 1,050 watts per square meter, now it spikes
between 1,200 and 1,400. In easy to understand terms, this mean
there is a great deal more solar energy and UV radiation coming to
the surface of the planet at this time. This also means that
sunburns and heat exhaustion will happen a great deal faster. It is
important that you understand this because things are not like they
used to be. Wear protective clothing and sun screen if needed.
Always wear a light colored hat if you have to be out in the sun.
The other readings that are alarming are the heat indexes. Normal
heat index was changed a few years ago (numbers were lowered) and
what is reported to you by mainstream weather only factors in
humidity and the air temperature. Our system calculates how hot is
feels by also including the wind data and solar radiation. These
are important because the wind can cool you off if it is moving and
you get much hotter if there is no wind. The solar radiation puts
extra heat into your body that has to be cooled. For the last
10 years, normal summer time heat index highs were 100 to 110 in the
hottest part of the summer. This year, 2010, we have reading at
120's everyday and on July 15th the afternoon reading was 135 heat
index. This, in my opinion, is a very dangerous level and again you
must change your outdoor exposures to stay safe. I am giving you
this link about the thermosphere collapse because this may be one
of the reasons for these reading.

A Puzzling Collapse of Earth's Upper Atmosphere
July 15, 2010: NASA-funded researchers are monitoring a big event
in our planet's atmosphere. High above Earth's surface where the
atmosphere meets space, a rarefied layer of gas called
"the thermosphere" recently collapsed and now is rebounding again.

The Thermosphere is where solar radiation makes first contact with
our planet. The thermosphere intercepts extreme ultraviolet (EUV)
photons from the sun before they can reach the ground.
full article
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sc ... rmosphere/

I have noticed the pattern of large lightning storms and unusual electrical disturbances when Mercury is cazimi. This could be kept in mind as a timer for this type of event should it occur.

Another example of this was Comet Holmes which in October 2007 during a cazimi Mercury in Scorpio temporarily brightened by a factor of half a million. An interesting footnote for your study of comets, Mark.

HI apoloogies for the lack of astro content in this post, but I've been looking into this subject of UV and also solar acivity utiliising the standard web based official sources and can find no substantiation. Am I missing soemthing??

The Sun is not currently unusually active, as of today the sunspot index is 25. At Solar Maximum this goes over 100, so we are about where we would expect to be in the cycle. There are solar flares but they are around C class flares , not monsters. THere is currently low geomagnetic and magnetic flux energy, so no major sun - earth activity.

Finally UV, the Met Office has plenty of data on this, and although UV seems high it is certainly not unusually high.

cheers mike c

Not exactly apocalyptic but we did have have some significant solar storm activitiy on Sunday which reached the Earth last night causing impressive aurora displays for those living in certain northern or southern latitude locations.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/spac ... plays.html

We can expect bigger more dramatic solar storms directed our way as the Sun enters the height of of 11 year cycle around 2013.

Even this relatively, minor storm has caused concerns about GPS and mobile phone connectivity.

http://www.techeye.net/science/experts- ... le-and-gps

Mark

Source: Aftenposten

I didn't stick up all night at 60N due to partial clouds, but the lights were reported seen as far south at Denmark and Germany. The northern lights could not be observed in higher (arctic) latitudes due to the daylight at this time of the year.

Hi Andrew,

I do envy your being able to see aurora up your way. Those long dark winters have their compensations. Before I die there are three astronomical phenomena I want to see: a total solar eclipse, the southern hemisphere constellations, and the aurora borealis.

Mark

Let's do it!