[Boatanchors] MAJOR SOLAR FLARE: AN X-1

[William L Howard]

Subject: Re: MAJOR SOLAR FLARE: AN X-17!!!!


In a message dated 10/28/03 8:56:25 AM Eastern Standard Time, Skywayinc
writes:

<< I have done a very quick check and have found that this likely one of
the
largest solar flares ever recorded.  On February 4, 2001 and August 16,
1989
X-20 flares were recorded.  X-15 flares erupted on March 6, 1989 and
July
11,
1978.  Today's flare would place it near the top of the list.
  >>

I have just also found an X-22 flare that occurred on April 2, 2001.
Please
keep in mind that many of these powerful flares were NOT Earth-Directed.
The
exception was the March 6, 1989 flare which caused a power-blackout
across
Quebec province and caused an aurora to be visible as far south as
Hawaii
and
Honduras!

It now appears that the shock-wave from the X-20 flare of this morning
could
reach us during the daylight hours of Wednesday . . . hopefully carrying
over
into the nighttime hours for a possible view of an auroral display.

Radiation from the proton event is now so intense that it has
invalidated
the ACE SWEPAM satellite sensors. They're useless until radiation levels
drop.

-- Joe Rao
   Skyway, Inc.