[Elecraft] OT: The Great Solar Storm of 1859

[Keith N6JPA]

The Great Solar Storm of 1859

On September 2, 1859, a massive solar storm composed of subatomic 
charged particles slammed into the earth’s protective magnetosphere. It 
ignited countless fires and caused sparks to spew from telegraph 
machines, shocking their operators. It also created a dramatic show of 
aurora borealis, or northern lights, as far south as the Caribbean. 
Solar storms occur when enormous bubbles of superheated plasma are 
periodically ejected from the sun. Scientists believe that if a similar 
solar storm were to happen today, it would cause catastrophic damage by 
crippling power grids, satellites, GPS, and communications systems. Such 
an event could leave North American without power for months or years 
and could carry an economic impact as high as $2 trillion.



While conducting observations from his private observatory outside of 
London on the morning of September 1, 1859, British amateur astronomer 
Richard Carrington noticed patches of intense white light erupt from the 
sun. The eruptions lasted about five minutes before dissipating. Little 
did Carrington know the flare he observed sent solar wind shock waves 
carrying supercharged plasma racing towards the earth. Hours later, 
those particles slammed into the earth’s magnetic shield, creating 
auroral flashes and clouds in vivid colors of red, violet, pink, and 
green. This single solar storm carried the energy equivalent of 10 
billion atomic bombs and is known as the Carrington Event.