We got Lucky

[Blunt Force Trauma]

This happened Thursday.

If earth had received the brunt of this puppy, we might all be cooking with chopped up furniture right now.

[Xtreme]

I hate how we can be squashed like bugs in 2 seconds because of any random event in the universe

[Dx.]

I heard the big flares are facing away from us now but will be turning towards us later. The last x flare glanced off the N. pole i think was said.

[Ded10c]

Another apocalypse theory bites the dust.

[hitchcockgreen]

I remember the last m-class flare from several years ago.
Nothing happened.
Nice aurora, though.

I also remember the last couple x class flares. Only once did it knock out satellites and the power grid. I know it affected Quebec, but I'm not sure about anywhere else in North America.

This one was only an M-class. Middle of the road. Not too much to worry about, really.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

None are that much of a worry as long as we don't get washed by the coronal ejection.

[FirBirGir]

Who's Coronal?

[hitchcockgreen]

None are that much of a worry as long as we don't get washed by the coronal ejection.

That's what hit in the late 90s.
Direct hit usually just means satellite interference and spectacular aurora.

I think they're starting to harden satellites for strong EM nowadays.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Who's Coronal?

Coronal mass ejection.

The sun pooping on us.

Analogous to intestinal mass ejection.

[hitchcockgreen]

How you like this one, BFT?

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Pretty scary by the numbers alone.

Thing is the scale.

If I took a bucket of BB's and put them in an area the size of the state of Alaska and had them whipping around in a random, but slightly altering orbit around a center and 'catastrophe' was hitting an object the size of a car, the concern would be extremely minimal, but still possible.

[hitchcockgreen]

Pretty scary by the numbers alone.

Thing is the scale.

If I took a bucket of BB's and put them in an area the size of the state of Alaska and had them whipping around in a random, but slightly altering orbit around a center and 'catastrophe' was hitting an object the size of a car, the concern would be extremely minimal, but still possible.

And that bucket of BBs would be only the ones you knew about.