Tag: Solar storm to hit Earth

Technology

Carrington event: The solar storm that SHOOK the world! Another one can wreak havoc on satellites today

The Carrington event solar storm took place in 1859 and had devastating effect on the telegraph system on Earth, setting off fires and even shocking the operators. A similar solar storm today can cause much greater damage and destroy our satellites. The year 1859 was when modern civilization realized how scary and destructive the life-nurturing Sun can be. It all began after multiple Sunspots exploded at the same time, resulting in sending coronal mass ejection (CME) so powerful towards the Earth that the resultant solar storm affected telegraph systems across the planet. The telegraph operators reported receiving electric shocks upon touching the instruments, the telegraph paper spontaneously caught fire and some equipment ...