Major solar storm hits Earth
2012-02-02 05:59:05 GMT2012-02-02 13:59:05(Beijing Time)
SINA.com
This handout image provided by NASA, taken Sunday night, Jan. 22, 2012, shows a solar flare erupting on the Sun's northeastern hemisphere. (AP Photo/NASA)
The Solar Dynamics Observatory captures an M8.7 class flare in a handout photo released by NASA January 23, 2012. (REUTERS/NASA/SDO/AIA/Handout)
In this handout from the NOAA/National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, shows a solar flare erupting from the sun late January 23, 2012. (Photo by NOAA/National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center via Getty Images)
This handout image provided by NASA shows the coronal mass ejection, viewed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory on June 7, 2011. (AP Photo/NASA/SDO)
This image provided by NASA shows a solar flare just as sunspot 1105 was turning away from Earth on Sept. 8, 2010 the active region erupted, producing a solar flare and a fantastic prominence. The eruption also hurled a bright coronal mass ejection into space. The eruption was not directed toward any planets.
In this handout from the NOAA/National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, shows the coronal mass ejection (CME) erupting from the sun late January 23, 2012. (Photo by NOAA/National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center via Getty Images)
A wave of charged particles from an intense solar storm is pummeling the Earth right now, which may trigger stunning aurora displays and cause minor disruptions to satellites over the next two days, NASA scientists say.
(Agencies)
