‘Extreme’ solar storm is heading straight for Earth following ‘giant magnetic explosion’ on the Sun --- A massive explosion on the Sun has sent a solar storm heading straight for Earth, experts have said, which may disrupt communications equipment and power grids when it strikes. -- The solar flare registered in the “extreme” band on the scale used by forecasters – a magnitude not seen by observers for a number of years. -- Originating from a collection of sunspots right in the centre of our nearest star, it poses a direct threat because “it’s pointed right at us”, according to experts at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado. -- Observed late on Wednesday, the storm is moving towards Earth at a medium-to-fast rate of about 2.5 million mph (4.02 million kph), said forecaster Tom Berger, meaning the soonest it can arrive is early on Friday (US time). -- News > Science ‘Extreme’ solar storm is heading straight for Earth following ‘giant magnetic explosion’ on the Sun -- Berger nonetheless added that the worst effects of the storm are likely to narrowly miss Earth, passing over the North Pole. -- It could still cause disturbances in satellite and radio transmissions, though, and will have a significant impact on Earth’s magnetic field. --While a warning has been issued, Berger said “we’re not scared of this one”, and issued a reminder that solar storms don’t directly harm people. -- There is a positive aspect to the storm’s arrival, despite the communications concerns. -- From Friday morning and over the weekend, we can expect the displays of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) to be particularly bright and colourful, and visible unusually far south. - More, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/extreme-solar-storm-heading-straight-for-earth-following-giant-magnetic-explosion-on-the-sun-9727023.html