Large CME finally arrives, could affect satellite reception.

[Terryl]

A large CME* that occurred several days ago on the Sun has finally arrived.

Look at the link below for info and severity on this event.


http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/pro_3d.html
Note: If the green line gets above the dotted line for several hours, then we could possibly permanently loose some satellites.

This CME (*Coronal Mass Ejection) is large enough to affect radio and TV broadcasts, it can also affect some satellites and internet signals.

So if your experiencing problems right now with your satellite receivers, WIFI, cordless phones and cell phones wait till it passes, things will get back to normal soon. (We hope!)

[Terryl]

Here is a link to the SOHO spacecraft that is monitoring the Sun, you can see the CME as it hits the spacecraft.

All the little sparkles you see are high energy particles hitting the cameras imager. (This is a large file (17 MB) it may take a bit to download for some of you)

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/LATEST/current_c3.mpg

Had this been any larger they might of had to evacuate the International Space Station.

[Terryl]

Well just when we thought things were calming down another one pops, this one a bit bigger.


http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/pro_3d.html

Green line just got to the dotted line.....Phew, missed us...

Some of you with already weak satellite signals may have problems with reception, this radiation can swamp your LNB's as your dish rotates towards the direction of the Sun (Earth rotating), causing a drop in signal on those weaker satellites.