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Big solar storm smacks earth

A large solar storm has hit earth, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US says, which may affect the power grid and GPS.

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Source: AAP


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A severe solar storm has slammed earth, increasing the chances of fluctuations in the power grid and GPS.

It also pushes shimmering polar auroras to places where more people can possibly see them.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a potent blast of magnetic plasma shot out of the sun on Sunday, travelling faster than usual, hitting earth on Monday afternoon with the biggest solar storm since March, maybe since September 2005.

NOAA space weather physicist Doug Biesecker said there are no reports of damage, but the electrical grid and GPS probably had current fluctuations that they could handle.

He said the storm could last a day or longer.


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