The solar physicists seem pretty fired up.
First up, from The Watchers, May 9:
At least 5 CMEs heading toward Earth, G3 – Strong Geomagnetic Storm Watch in effect for May 11
At least five coronal mass ejections (CMEs) produced over the past 3 days are heading toward Earth. The first impact is expected on May 9 and the following over the next 3 – 4 days.
- At least 5 CMEs will impact Earth from May 9 – 13
- G3 – Strong Geomagnetic Storm Watch is in effect for May 11
- An X2.2 solar flare erupted during the writing of this report. A strong CME was produced and is likely Earth-directed
“It’s a solar storm train! We now have FIVE storms headed towards Earth,” said space weather physicist, Dr. Tamitha Skov on May 9.
“Storms 2, 3, and 5 will be direct hits as seen in the coronagraph imagery. Impacts start around midday May 10 and will continue through late May 12 at least. G3-level conditions and extended aurora aurora is possible.”....
....MUCH MORE, a very deep dive.
SpaceWeather makes this observation:
....A CARRINGTON-CLASS SUNSPOT: Sunspot AR3664 has grown so large, it now rivals the great Carrington sunspot of 1859. To illustrate their similarity, we've added Carrington's famous sketch (to scale) to a NASA photo of today's sun:
Sprawling almost 200,000 km from end to end, AR3664 is 15 times wider than Earth. You can see it through ordinary eclipse glasses with no magnification at all. Moreover, it is easy to project an image of this sunspot onto the sidewalk or a white screen just as Carrington did in the 19th century.
Carrington's sunspot is famous because in August and Sept. 1859 it emitted a series of intense solar flares and CMEs. The resulting geomagnetic storms set fire to telegraph offices and sparked auroras from Cuba to Hawaii. The "Carrington Event" has since become a touchstone of space weather in pop culture, with recent headlines stoking fears of an "internet apocalypse" if it repeats.
Indeed, it could repeat. Studies suggest that Carrington-class storms occur once every 40 to 60 years, so we're overdue. CMEs currently en route to Earth will not cause a new Carrington Event; they are puny compared to the CMEs of 1859. Nevertheless, it would be wise to keep an eye on this growing active region while Earth is in its strike zone. CME impact alerts: SMS Text
....MUCH MORE