According to NASA, if the eruption is strong enough, could damage communication systems and power grids
DALLAS, – A solar storm will arrive at Earth on Saturday causing geomagnetic conditions that could cause disruptions in satellite and radio signals, reported the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
It is expected that the effects of radiation or solar flare to reach the Earth between 5:00 and 9:00 am Eastern Time U.S. (9:00 to 13:00 GMT) on Saturday, according to forecasts by the NASA researchers and the Climate Prediction Center NOAA‘s Space.
The solar flare on Thursday was officially classified as an X1.4 class flare, so it becomes the strongest in the summer so far.
The flare and CME emerged from a massive sunspot known as AR1520, which scientists say could be up to 300 thousand kilometers long.
The arrival of the radiation by the coronal mass ejection to Earth likely to generate moderate geomagnetic storms that will last until Sunday, with the potential to cause temporary interruptions in radio and satellite networks as well as energy.
- Sun Blasts an X-ray Shot at Earth (news.discovery.com)