Friday, June 15, 2012

Get Ready, Here It Comes.



DOUBLE CME:  Active sunspot AR1504 is facing Earth and hurling coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in our direction.  A fast-moving CME that left the sun on June 14th is expected to scoop up another CME already en route and deliver a double-blow to Earth's magnetic field on June 16th.  Weak-to-moderate geomagnetic storms are possible when the clouds arrive.

According to the forecast track prepared by analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, the CMEs will also hit Venus on June 15th and Mars on June 19th. Because Venus and Mars do not have global magnetic fields to protect them, both of those planets will probably lose tiny amounts of atmosphere when the CMEs strike.

Here on Earth, the impact is likely to trigger a geomagnetic storm around the poles. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras on June 16th.

To learn more and track this CME visit SpaceWeather

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