A New Kind of Solar Storm

June 10, 2005 4:44 PM

Going to the moon? Be careful. A new kind of solar storm can take you by surprise. Biggest proton storm since 1956 - before there were satellites monitoring the sun.
posted by Cranberry (10 comments total)

I don't know why the sun tolerates these so-called "sun spots." Obviously the function of the sun is to produce light and heat. These "sun spots" aren't so much part of the sun, contributing to it's purpose, as they are a cancerous growth, taking away from its light and making it less stable. Any decent sun would cut down on such inefficiencies. Why, pretty soon the young fusion plasmas below the surface will start getting the notion in their little heads that it's fun to be a spot, that's it's "cool" to be a "sun spot." And before you know it, we'll have a dark cold sun, like we used to, before the good days.

Hahaha. :oP
posted by nervousfritz at 5:04 PM on June 10, 2005

I say we pre-emptively strike this "sun" that threatens our planet.
Does it think it can lash out at us with it's super accelerated proton storms without consequence?
Why does the sun hate Earth? Our freedoms, of course. We go about our daily routines, hardly giving a second thought to the "sun" apart from weather reports where we hope for rain.
The "sun" is jelous of our freedoms, liberties, and rights. Do you think it will feel remorse if it wipes us out in totality? No.
Therefore, we must strike first, to show this "sun" that the planet Earth is not to be trifled with.
Our failure to act now, with a sufficient show of force, to show dominance over this solar system, will result in us all being slaves to this overheated bag of superheated gas, and subject to every photon storm whim it wants to throw at us.
posted by Balisong at 5:51 PM on June 10, 2005

Mr. Spock: "Fascinating..."
posted by QuestionableSwami at 5:56 PM on June 10, 2005

Well, it IS fascinating.
posted by spock at 8:33 PM on June 10, 2005

These things are a staple of every interplanetary sci-fi novel. Not much dramatic stuff happens when everyone is in hibernation, and an emergency solar storm is the perfect antidote.
posted by smackfu at 8:39 PM on June 10, 2005

On the moon, nerds have their pants pulled down and are spanked with moon rocks.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:05 AM on June 11, 2005

Cool post. Thanks, Cranberry!
posted by fossil_human at 6:06 PM on June 11, 2005

Wow.
posted by spazzm at 6:05 AM on June 12, 2005

i didnt know the sun had a function.... have you met her?
posted by Satapher at 12:26 PM on June 12, 2005

Reminds me of Niven's story "Inconstant Moon". Brilliant!
posted by Poagao at 1:05 AM on June 13, 2005