GLOBAL ERUPTION ON THE SUN; SOUTHWESTERN FIREBALL

[Cheryl Nelson]

Space Weather News for Sept. 22, 2010 http://spaceweather.com GLOBAL ERUPTION ON THE SUN: This morning between 0230 UT and 0600 UT, the northern hemisphere of the sun erupted in a tumult of activity. There was a solar flare, a coronal mass ejection, and at least two dark magnetic filaments lifting off the stellar surface. The event appears to be a smaller-scale version of the global blast in early August that sparked auroras over some US states. As before, NASA spacecraft recorded the action in detail. Visit http://spaceweather.com for movies and updates. SOUTHWESTERN FIREBALL RIVALS THE HARVEST MOON: Last night, sky watchers in the southwestern United States witnessed a brilliant fireball. It was almost as bright as the full Harvest Moon and caused a loud sonic boom over parts of New Mexico. A movie of the event is highlighted on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

[Cheryl Nelson]

Yes, with incoming fireballs overhead and earthquakes and sinkholes underneath it's going to be one helluva ride.

[edina]

When I consider this sort of thing, this is why I say to myself, there is no guarantee. We do the best we can today, and hopefully to be helpful for the future, but no matter what we do, we cannot guarantee our safety. This is how it is every day, whether we driving a car, walking out the door of the house, or dodging asteroids. But, just like I make sure the sidewalk is clear, my car is in good working order, I prepare. Hopefully, with a healthy perspective....

[edina]

My husband saw this light last night, we're in Southern Colorado. He said it was as bright as the moon, too. We did not hear the sonic boom though. When you read the above article it mentions that it continued traveling west and was seen by people in Amarillo. And in Amarillo, a second one followed the first one. Leaves me wondering if it broke up somewhere between here and there. My family lives in Amarillo, so I will ask them what they saw.