In 1859, astronomer Richard Carrington was studying the Sun when he witnessed the most intense geomagnetic storm recorded in history. The storm, triggered by a giant solar flare, sent brilliant auroral displays across the globe causing electrical sparking and fires in telegraph stations.
Short Wave's scientist-in-residence Regina G. Barber talks to solar physicist
Dr. Samaiyah Farid about what's now known as the Carrington event and about what may happen the next time a massive solar storm hits Earth.
You can check out NASA's
Solar Dynamics Observatory for pictures of our Sun in real-time:
go.nasa.gov/3LOWV1uCurious about other parts of our solar system? Email the show at
shortwave@npr.org.
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