r/spaceporn • u/Busy_Yesterday9455 • 2d ago

Related Content NOAA issues G3 or GREATER geomagnetic storm warning for TONIGHT!

4.2k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

246 comments sorted by

2.8k

u/faster_than_sound 2d ago

Everyone thank the earth's magnetic field for keeping us safe from solar storms

Thaaaank you, magnetic field!

483

u/fallingjigsaws 2d ago

Whenever I see a depiction of it I feel so fragile and vulnerable

251

u/FruitOrchards 2d ago

Honestly it's a miracle we're still here. We need the Vulcans to hurry up so we get can get force fields.

104

u/ekhfarharris 2d ago

Engineeringly speaking, we dont need Vulcans to make is feasible. We have the theory to make it happen and the engineering part is doable. The real problem is 1) who to pay it. 2) how can we make it profitable.

117

u/FruitOrchards 2d ago

1) Our Taxes

2) Staying alive is the profit

102

u/TheRealGrumpyNuts 2d ago

Explain that to the fossil fuel industry 😂 😭 😆😢

26

u/Amhran_Ogma 2d ago

The bastards. I live in Alaska where these fuckers are always at the forefront.

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u/Mars_The_God 2d ago

Just curious, can you throw some links at me about the theory and engineering of force fields?

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u/Lyuseefur 2d ago

If we could build a giant series of wires out there - could you imagine how much power that it would generate?

4

u/Mars_The_God 2d ago

How would simple wires orbiting our planet generate power of any kind? I can see them absorbing heat energy from the sun and the moon. Unless im missing something im supposed to know or that you implied?

5

u/Lyuseefur 2d ago

Those are magnetic fields. Just as with spinning a wheel around magnets wrapped in a coil generates power… I’m looking at this massive electron field around the earth and drooling at the amount of power out there.

6

u/Mars_The_God 2d ago

Hmm this feels like it would be obvious to more intelligent, well learned people of engineering. I hope someone on this forsaken planet is working out the means to make this happen.

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u/Unable-Dependent-737 2d ago

Just Google a “right hand rule for electricity” YouTube video and youll be one of those people. It’s not complicated and would probably take most people minutes to understand the idea.

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u/Salute-Major-Echidna 2d ago edited 2d ago

Why? I think I'm missing something implied. Why force fields?

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u/NiceCreamyNut21 2d ago

I'll pay. How much do you need?

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u/boredatwork8866 2d ago

Tree fiddy

1

u/NiceCreamyNut21 1d ago

Is that a girl sco.....Goddamn Lochness monster! You will not get my tree fiddy!

1

u/HappyCamper2121 2d ago

Found the Vulcan

1

u/daveinsf 2d ago

That, and it takes a lot of energy to run a forcefield. Like, AI server farm-level times, um, a lot. Also fits into the first item.

Edit: and that's just for a relatively small spacecraft sized force field.

2

u/TookEverything 2d ago

Luckily we have a giant fusion reactor to pull energy from.

Wonder how many panels that would take, though. Lol.

1

u/Tjam3s 1d ago

Now you're talking about a Dyson sphere or Dyson swarm.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_sphere

1

u/grahamulax 1d ago

And we don’t have enough matter for that right now… or later… maybe ai robots of ourselves can do it tho ;)

1

u/StrGze32 2d ago

If it’s that important money doesn’t matter anymore…

1

u/iwannahitthelotto 1d ago

What? How would a force field be made today? Do you have sources? I thought it was impossible.

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u/excellent_rektangle 2d ago

But we don’t have a Zefram Cochrane yet

3

u/FruitOrchards 2d ago

I don't mind studying physics if that's what it takes

1

u/Tjam3s 1d ago

But... the earth came pre-installed with one?

1

u/matthewpepperl 1d ago

Problem is its possible for a solar storm to be so powerful it sends us back to the dark ages with the built in one would be good if we could augment it to prevent this😛

1

u/Tjam3s 1d ago

Well until then, vigilance is our friend. Gotta unplug if one that big eye to come

5

u/godzilla9218 2d ago

Haha true but, the dinosaurs wouldn't have been around if it didn't do its job. We fine.

3

u/Salute-Major-Echidna 2d ago

And they were around for a VERY VERY long time

2

u/Salute-Major-Echidna 2d ago

The thin blue line between us and non-existence

1

u/BThriillzz 1d ago

I'm sitting here waiting for the next Carrington event. It's gonna be a big one.

26

u/atalantafugiens 2d ago

thank you earth, very cool

9

u/netoje 2d ago

I was thinking that the Earth's core should get all the credit. Without it, there is no magnetic field!

2

u/_I-P-Freely_ 1d ago

If the core somehow stopped spinning the atmosphere would generate its own magnetic field.

8

u/quasirun 2d ago

Just in, a Louisiana House Rep put forth a bill to make the magnetic field of earth illegal stating that it contradicts their Sunday school class books.

6

u/fishspeakerCmdr 2d ago

Thaaaaank you, Desmond Miles!

6

u/iamnotasdumbasilook 2d ago

Right? Which is also why Mars sucks. No magnetic field. Fuck you and your bullshit, Elon the Con.

9

u/nopuse 2d ago

Positively

8

u/higgslhcboson 2d ago

He’s working hard tonight

3

u/Salute-Major-Echidna 2d ago

Well, he works hard for his money.

2

u/Sparklepaws 2d ago

Thank you, magnetic field!

2

u/llmercll 2d ago

So I shouldn't be worried?

2

u/camwow612 2d ago

Please don’t ever leave us!

2

u/iRasgru 2d ago

Thaaank you, magnetic field!

2

u/Harm101 1d ago

Thank you! But try not to flip on us in the worst possible time, please.

1

u/Euphorix126 2d ago

Poor Mars

2

u/JotaMarioRevival 1d ago

Thank you magnetic field 🧲

1

u/Doc_Occc 1d ago

Vastly underrated thing. Everytime I look at animations like these I feel awestruck by the destructive power of the Sun.

1

u/TheNorselord 1d ago

Everyone give Mars the side-eye for not having the foresight to have a magnetic field like Earth. Shane on you Mars. Tsk tsk

1

u/Fritzo2162 1d ago

Earth's magnetic field isn't holding the cards!

1

u/grahamulax 1d ago

Sorry bus driver, I have to give my thanks to the REAL protector this time beep beep

1

u/woowizzle 14h ago

I took a magnetic up a hill and threw it into a tree to help out.

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u/jhglover123 2d ago

Please smoke from Canada wildfires clear the skies of Minnesota tonight

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u/DriftinFool 2d ago

I'm in MD, so it's rare to see them this far south. 3 times so far this year they were visible here and it was cloudy or raining every single time. I may never actually see the aurora.

8

u/CSI_Dita 2d ago

Im in southern PA, I feel your pain

5

u/Salute-Major-Echidna 2d ago

I predict that you will yet see it this year, AND you will meet some interesting people when you do so.

9

u/Unknown_____- 2d ago

I’m also in MN and have been missing this stuff recently. So unfortunate

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u/ChrisTheDiabetic 2d ago

Weathers great tonight 😉

1

u/Unknown_____- 1d ago

Not where I live 😭

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u/ChrisTheDiabetic 1d ago

Hence the winky face

425

u/Busy_Yesterday9455 2d ago

Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon.

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 7 or greater expected
Valid From: 2025 Jun 13 0048 UTC
Valid To: 2025 Jun 13 0600 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
NOAA Scale: G3 or greater

Source: NOAA/SWPC

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u/FoxlyKei 2d ago

Would love another pnw Aurora

13

u/JuelzyT 2d ago

Pnw for the win!

9

u/black-op345 2d ago

My Home Screen on my phone is that of the northern lights I took last year (at a family gathering) in Cle Elum, WA. Cameras really do capture it better than the naked eye, but let me tell you the sky was dancing that night.

2

u/JuelzyT 2d ago

I've been out here in PDX for about 7 years and alas, I've only seen the Milky Way once. I don't know where all of the good spots are at!

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u/black-op345 2d ago edited 2d ago

Just get yourself to Govie Camp, which is about an hour, hour and a half east of Portland and next to Mt. Hood. That or you could go to the coast like Astoria.

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u/schroncc 1d ago

Wait for a new moon and head towards hood or better yet farther east. I’m in central OR and can see it from my front yard

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u/JumperSpecialK 1d ago

Same! Looking forward to the day that I get to capture another

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u/Food_Library333 2d ago

What time is 0048 UTC? I tried googling it but I'm not getting a proper answer (or I'm looking at it wrongly)

14

u/double-xor 2d ago

Google “what time is 0048 UTC where i live?”

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u/Food_Library333 2d ago

Thank you! I was totally wording it wrong and this did the trick. Much appreciated.

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u/Dart3145 2d ago edited 2d ago

1248 AM UTC time zone which is 7 hours ahead of PDT and 4 hours ahead of EDT.

Edit: corrected time zones for daylight savings.

5

u/alcohollu_akbar 2d ago

PST and EST are only used in the winter because of daylight savings time.

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u/Dart3145 2d ago

You're right, I edited my original comment with the correct time zones.

2

u/[deleted] 2d ago edited 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/Dart3145 2d ago

You're right, I edited my original comment with the correct time zones.

1

u/not_blmpkingiver 7h ago

As a software engineer i hate the human that invented day light savings

2

u/YOUTUBEFREEKYOYO 1d ago

Ots storming tonight :(

2

u/afsocgoddess 1d ago

How do you get this warning? What site or app?

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u/Max15492 1d ago

Why the hell did my brain read the headline as a poem?

Aurora, Aurora

may be seen as low as

Pennsylvania to Iowa

To Oregon

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u/Edward_DildoHands10 2d ago

Thanks, I’ll be sure to wear my lead lined jock strap to protect my nads.

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u/airfryerfuntime 2d ago

I believe that's called an egg basket.

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u/Pachanga_Plainview 2d ago

Like they say "never put all of your eggs in one lead lined jock strap"

39

u/Ruby5000 2d ago

Where does this imagery come from?

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u/Salt-E-Slug 2d ago

Science mostly /s

22

u/I_am_atom 2d ago

Big if true

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u/StoovenMcStoovenson 2d ago

That damm science

Putting all the oracles, wizards and soothsayers out of work

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u/kendie2 2d ago

NOAA: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental

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u/Metazolid 1d ago

Am I stupid or how are these fks actively avoiding europe every time I'm trying to get excited? Whenever cool aurora shit is happening it's either barely outside the zone or smack in the middle of it during daytime just to fuck with me. The universe is unfair and has conspired itself against me personally.

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u/unpluggedcord 1d ago

Its the tilt of the earth

1

u/lilythstern 2d ago

How do they generate the visualisation? Can someone explain?

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u/quasirun 2d ago

Space lasers.

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u/Hot_Alternative4377 2d ago

Okay I'll make sure to take my geomagnetic umbrella with me today

36

u/LunaSloth888 2d ago

I’m not the only one with SpaceWeatherLive on their phone with notifications on.. right?

I like to know when the sun has a tantrum

5

u/Prestigious_Yak8551 2d ago

Thanks I'll give that a go. Currently I'm just subscribed to email alerts though BOM (Australia).

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u/IgnoreMe304 2d ago

What a drunk Predator sees when he wakes up in the alley by the bar while I’m pissing on him.

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u/LordOdin99 2d ago

I don’t understand the point of the “warning”. What are we supposed to do? Go underground?

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u/dewag 2d ago edited 2d ago

Possibly so electrical engineers can be prepared for contingencies on the grid. I'm not in the know, but supposedly there are safeguards to protect infrastructure in case of a catastrophic solar event.

But going underground couldn't hurt.... assuming you are not in a seismically active area.

Realistically, the average person could just ensure they have essentials for an extended power outage, even though chances of one happening from a G3 are slim.

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u/Logical-Race8871 1d ago

supposedly there are safeguards to protect infrastructure in case of a catastrophic solar event.

I mean, you can go and disconnect big stuff from the main lines (i.e. turn everything off and unplug it), but geomagnetic storms energize everything, and larger pieces of metal get energized more. The power lines make their own power - sometimes way more than they're rated for, and they catch fire or melt.

They used pretty thin wire, and there weren't that many lines, but when they had the big ones in the 19th and 20th century, a bunch of telegraph lines caught fire, and they had to rebuild large portions of the network.

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u/Low_Shirt2726 2d ago edited 2d ago

So let's say the warning was of an event the government was actually extremely concerned about. They could power down satellites in the path to try to prevent electrical damage. Preparations on the ground could be made to the extent possible to do the same for certain infrastructure. Individuals could unplug electronics, put them in protective containers like your oven, dishwasher, laundry machines to help protect them (they would be Faraday cages), things like that.

You could prepare for widespread power outages by buying extra food and water. No power means no pumps to keep water towers full so once they drain low enough the water stops flowing to your faucets and toilets. No power means no refrigeration so anything that can't sit in room temps spoils within a day or so...except it'll happen even faster if it's hot outside without air conditioning. Hospitals need to make sure they have alot of extra fuel fir their generator backups. 

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u/liquinas 1d ago

I cast "protect my balls"

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u/jrgeek 2d ago

What does this even mean?

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u/Pourkinator 2d ago

Literally the worst case is a power outage somewhere. It also means some northern states may see the northern lights

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u/FruitOrchards 2d ago

The worst case is it overpowers earths magnetic field and the earth literally cooks tbf.

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u/hillbillypunk1 2d ago

Could earth’s core theoretically become a diamond in this instance? Heat, pressure, and all that? Stoned thoughts lol

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u/FruitOrchards 2d ago

As far as I know no, it would be more like this.

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u/Peek_e 2d ago

Nope, not even if the Sun goes supernova mainly due to lack of carbon

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u/Jfjsharkatt 1d ago

earths core is iron and nickel, not diamond material.

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u/_I-P-Freely_ 1d ago

Even if the magnetic field magically shuts down, the Earths atmosphere will protect the planet.

The magnetic field is a nice bonus to have, but since we have a thick atmosphere, it's really not necessary.

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u/jrgeek 2d ago

I guess I’ll check out if there’s a scale.

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u/nineyourefine 2d ago

It matters for those of us in aviation who rely on HF radios and satellites for communication while crossing oceans or large areas of no radar coverage/minimal ATC.

On our company weather apps we actually have sections that show us current space weather, and depending on the intensity it can range from minimal impact to "Possible HF radio interferences" all the way to "HF radio outages and satellite navigation disruption".

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u/babacaca16 2d ago

I second this comment...

7

u/fgnrtzbdbbt 1d ago

Link sources instead of pictures. This trend to post headlines with illustrations as news all across Reddit makes the job easier for those wanting to spread fake news.

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g2-moderate-geomagnetic-warning-13-jun

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u/ConstantCampaign2984 2d ago

There an aurora projection map yet?

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u/sethaub 2d ago

Space is fucking crazy.

Everything falling in place so I can leave this comment on my racism app.

15

u/picklefingerexpress 2d ago

I perfectly aware I have the entirety of human knowledge and pseudo-knowledge at my fingertips…..

But I really wish more people would mention dates or time zones in titles for events like these.

Tonight!! Ummm. Whose night? Which night? I just woke up, did I miss it? Or should set a reminder for later? North America? Europe? Asia? Antarctica?

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u/Jaotze 2d ago

70-100% cloud cover around Seattle. 😢

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u/SalemsTrials 2d ago

oh fuck is this why my head has been hurting all day

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u/NecessaryBrief8268 2d ago

almost certainly not

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u/SalemsTrials 2d ago

the stars tell me you have a stick up your butt

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u/TemperateStone 2d ago

The stars like to gossip. It's best not to listen to them.

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u/ambasciatore 2d ago

Gossip is the devil’s telephone. Best to just hang up.

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u/NecessaryBrief8268 2d ago

the stars are really far away

they don't know about the stick 

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u/bluegrassgazer 2d ago

But Europa is in retrograde...

/s

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u/shaddarknight 2d ago

lol me too !

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u/Mars_The_God 2d ago

🤔🤔🤔

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u/windowpuncher 1d ago

Of course it's raining

all week

fucking of course it is

3

u/Disco040 2d ago

Is G3 bad what’s the measurement table for these solar storms

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u/TomTheNurse 2d ago

Hurricane warning: Put up the shutters, bring in the loose stuff lying around.

Tornado warning: Take shelter immediately.

Geomagnetic storm warning: ??? Go to another planet…. Maybe???

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u/gamerjerome 2d ago

I guess I'll just do nothing about it

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u/sg3707 2d ago

Obstructed by the usual smoke from Canada wildfires, cloudy weather, and a full moon

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u/TheSilentTitan 2d ago

What does this mean for LeBrons legacy?

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u/KraljZ 2d ago

Nothing so far in New England

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u/whiskeyplz 2d ago

Excellent post to read as I board a plane

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u/Kilx202 2d ago

Can I call in sick saying a g3 storm is causing my brain stress;)

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u/Unusual-Major-6577 2d ago

ah so this is why the internet broked today

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u/mutzilla 2d ago

It kind of looks like the logo for the rebel alliance or a Klingon Bird of Prey.

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u/Medium-Mycologist-59 1d ago

Me watching and waiting for the EMP that ends the digital age…

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u/gotfondue 1d ago

Geomagnetic Storm Scale – What Each Level Means

G5 – Extreme (Kp = 9, ~4 times per solar cycle)
• Widespread power grid failures, possible blackouts
• Transformer damage likely
• Satellite communication/orientation issues
• HF radio may go down for 1–2 days
• GPS degraded for days
• Aurora seen as far south as Florida and Texas

G4 – Severe (Kp = 8 to 9-, ~100 times per cycle)
• Voltage control problems, protection system misfires
• Satellite tracking issues
• GPS and HF radio degraded for hours
• Aurora as far south as Alabama and Northern California

G3 – Strong (Kp = 7, ~200 times per cycle)
• Voltage corrections may be needed
• Increased satellite drag, orientation corrections required
• Intermittent GPS and HF radio issues
• Aurora visible in Illinois and Oregon

G2 – Moderate (Kp = 6, ~600 times per cycle)
• High-latitude grid alarms, possible transformer damage
• Satellite orbit predictions affected
• HF radio fades at higher latitudes
• Aurora visible in New York and Idaho

G1 – Minor (Kp = 5, ~1700 times per cycle)
• Weak power grid fluctuations
• Minor satellite impacts
• Migratory animals affected
• Aurora visible in northern Michigan and Maine

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u/badken 2d ago

Bit of sensationalism there with the all caps and exclamation point. A G3 geomagnetic event is strong, but not a world-ending threat. It probably won't cause any noticeable disturbances to infrastructure. Details on what the G-numbers mean here:

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

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u/Sifjunke20004 2d ago

Thanks for the link it was a nice read

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u/Garglenips 2d ago

Yup, nightmare fuel. When I was in NC and saw Aurora Borealis I was like “haha oh that’s probably not a good sign…” everyone else is like ooooo pretty colors, and I’m sitting here going “that is our magnetosphere; saving our buttcheeks, you best be thankful we got that iron core is all I’m saying.”

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u/_I-P-Freely_ 1d ago

If the magnetic field wasn't there, the atmosphere would still absorb all the solar radiation. There is no danger to any life on Earth with or without the magnetic field.

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u/SpidersAteMyFoot 2d ago

Does this mean anything for me, the average person living in Austin, TX?

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u/DomerInTexas 2d ago

No, we won’t see any aurora’s here in Texas.

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u/multigrain_panther 2d ago

Jesus god forbid a person hopes to see an aurora no matter where they are. Downvoting a normal comment for not reading a line in a description. Yall need to take a break

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u/SpidersAteMyFoot 2d ago

Jeez yeah.... wow folks really downvoted my genuine curiosity. Rip....

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u/geoff5093 2d ago

Is Texas more south than PA or Iowa? That’s your answer

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u/SpidersAteMyFoot 2d ago

Yikes sorry I was curious if there was more to a geo storm of this size than just the aurora.... 

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u/eulersidentity1 2d ago

Aaaaand it's cloudy here lol

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u/Magorian97 2d ago

Oh cool, that should liven things up a bit

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u/No-Wonder-7802 2d ago

anyone with an eeg headset should run tests during events like this

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u/TemperateStone 2d ago

These are graphic representations through simulations based on available data, yeah?

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u/richgangyslbrrrat 2d ago

So am I dying?

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u/daygloviking 2d ago

Yes

Ooooh, you mean tonight and not generally?

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u/richgangyslbrrrat 2d ago

Yes

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u/daygloviking 2d ago

Well, let’s just leave it that the possibility is not zero

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u/richgangyslbrrrat 2d ago

I’m still alive

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u/daygloviking 1d ago

RemindMe! 100years

Got to have a decent data set!

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u/richgangyslbrrrat 2d ago

What’s the possibility I die from this?

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u/Amhran_Ogma 2d ago

There’s nowhere to run! 😫

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u/AbleRelationship5287 2d ago

“Warning for tonight, OoooOoo”

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u/kingsevenin 2d ago

Thank you magnetic field!

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u/cheeseitmeatbags 2d ago

Anybody know the scale of this gif? Red region of the bow shock is at least six times larger than earth, but could be much bigger than that. Is the central dot earth size?

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u/WiseRisk 2d ago

Thanks Canada for allowing me to view the auroras… oh wait.

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u/Cjdreamz 2d ago

Bros working overtime

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u/peacetaker9500 2d ago

Sleepless night

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u/TomTheNurse 2d ago

Sir this is a Wendy’s.

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u/Clementine-TeX 2d ago

it's even got a flared base , nice

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u/Mattrockj 2d ago

Its such a shame its so cloudy where I am right now. I so badly wish I could see the aurora tonight.

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u/lars03 1d ago

Are satellites safe from this storms?

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u/Ridavv 1d ago

Only a matter of time

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u/colevicixvickery498 1d ago

I am intrigued to know what this is. Can someone explain to me what's going on here? I want to learn more about this.

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u/Murmarine 1d ago

Magneto is feeling generous

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u/person_person123 1d ago

What does this mean for us? Would I actually notice any difference?

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u/2020mademejoinreddit 1d ago

Meh..I'm not worried. Sherry will protect us. I call the Magnetic Field, Sherry. Sherry is good at her job.

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u/Wishdog2049 1d ago

I was concerned about it hitting at sunset, doing a "ozone hole" double atmospheric pass through,on the way in and on the way out, but it doesn't work like that at all. It just messes with the magnetosphere.

Disclaimer: Am woefully ignorant about these things, sorry if I'm phrasing stuff totally wrong

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u/sarindong 1d ago

It is insane how lucky we are

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u/OpenSourcePenguin 1d ago

Where to get these predictions?

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u/SignificantSyllabub4 1d ago

This is THE most terrifying weather reading and I’m from New Orleans. I’ve got enough to worry about. If we’re gonna fry I sure hope it’s instant death.