Nick
10-24-03, 07:19 AM
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/images/1.gif(CNN) -- Satellites, pagers, cell phones,
electrical grids could be affected Friday
by a moderately powerful ejection of
magnetic material from the sun.
Space weather forecasters say the coronal mass ejection, or CME, was detected Wednesday morning at 3 a.m. EDT. It is expected to reach Earth about 3 p.m. EDT Friday, and its effects could last 12 to 18 hours.
Satellites are perhaps most affected by the solar activity. "Satellites live and breathe in space; they are very vulnerable to solar activity," said Larry Combs, NOAA space weather forecaster. "They affect our banking systems, our TVs and cell phones, all the luxuries of life."
Combs said some operators will put their satellites into a stow, or a sort of "sleep" mode during the highest impact of the electromagnetic activity.
CNN story (http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/23/solar.forecast/index.html)
electrical grids could be affected Friday
by a moderately powerful ejection of
magnetic material from the sun.
Space weather forecasters say the coronal mass ejection, or CME, was detected Wednesday morning at 3 a.m. EDT. It is expected to reach Earth about 3 p.m. EDT Friday, and its effects could last 12 to 18 hours.
Satellites are perhaps most affected by the solar activity. "Satellites live and breathe in space; they are very vulnerable to solar activity," said Larry Combs, NOAA space weather forecaster. "They affect our banking systems, our TVs and cell phones, all the luxuries of life."
Combs said some operators will put their satellites into a stow, or a sort of "sleep" mode during the highest impact of the electromagnetic activity.
CNN story (http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/23/solar.forecast/index.html)