Or not…
The active sun is kicking into overdrive and we could be in for yet more dazzling auroras.
In the early morning hours today (Aug. 14), the sun unleashed the most powerful class of solar flare, in a potent X-class eruption. The solar flare peaked at 2:40 a.m. EDT (0640 GMT) and caused shortwave radio blackouts over the sunlit portion of Earth at the time of the eruption, Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Full article, HERE from Space.com
X-class are the most powerful eruptions, but I noted there is no 1-10 assigned to it yet. 1 is the lowest, with 10 being the highest. Other classes in descending order are M, C, B, and A-class with a magnitude decrease of 10 at each class.
Among other things, in addition to a coronal mass ejection (CME), it did a number on ‘radio’ frequencies over Asia which happened to be in sunlight (e.g. direct path).
Shortwave radio blackouts were observed across Asia and the Indian Ocean. (Image credit: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center)
I also pity anybody trying to do MAD trapping or any magnetometer work in that region or pretty much anywhere for a couple of days.
Oh yeah, and if your GPS loses lock, that’s the reason…
I have paper maps in the car and the other day, just drove by the sun figuring I’d find the right road sooner or later.
Dead reckoning still works.
I have paper maps, if need be. I like have backups.
The last time we had an ejection come over the US, my battery powered kitchen clock lost a half hour of time. Reset it and still is keeping perfect time, just that one time. Very weird. Dunno if it’s connected but, well, weird.
As to paper maps, I so love them. Being able to see and manipulate them to provide extra information. I’ve hated using the phone for such things.
All- Yep, ‘nothing’ wrong with backup… And Beans, THAT is strange!
Last week my GPS’s (I have more than one) went dumb. I have maps for states but not cities.
That glowball warming is even affecting the sun.
Rand-McNally, Michelin (2 scales), DeLorme topo atlas for Tenn. (home state) and Fla. (not that it has much topo). And yes, compass. Dad (Army Engineer) taught me how to read a map before I could read Dick and Jane. Wife and I never get lost. OK, we sometimes “go on adventures” but at least we know where we are when get there. 😉
It was a X1.1 flare, barely in the large category. The flares earlier this summer were much more powerful.
Maps are handy , one of the best I had ,whilst trucking in a past life , was the motor carriers atlas put out by triple A , AAA. It had everything down to county roads . I was hauling ag products at the time delivering to small farm coops often in the middle of nowhere , and to crop dusters often very remotely located . You had to be an AAA member to get one , and you had to request the motor carrier version . It had Rand McNally all beat to hell . Don’t know if they are still being made , and mine is lost long ago. Very very good road atlas .
Still available, made by Rand McNally.
https://shop.cluballiance.aaa.com/products/2024-motor-carriers-road-atlas
>You DO still carry real maps, don’t you?
—
I do.
The “service area” maps the cellphone providers publish are blatant lies.
Also, a paper map gives me the “big picture” that peeking through the knothole of a smartphone screen can’t provide. Zooming is not a substitute.
I was hoping, but the description for this one doesn’t list county roads. Rand McNally probably borged the publisher, and now puts out what they feel is appropriate for a motor carrier in this day and age. Same name, but not the same product anymore.
Like so many other things.