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NASA | Biggest Solar Storm Since 2005

The sun erupted late on January 22, 2012 with an M8.7 class flare, an earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME), and a burst of fast moving, highly energetic protons known as a "solar energetic particle" event. The latter has caused the strongest solar radiation storm since September 2005 according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.

NASA's Goddard Space Weather Center's models predict that the CME is moving at almost 1,400 miles per second, and could reach Earth's magnetosphere -- the magnetic envelope that surrounds Earth -- as early as tomorrow, Jan 24 at 9 AM ET (plus or minus 7 hours). This has the potential to provide good auroral displays, possibly at lower latitudes than normal.

Big solar storm on January 23, 2012 seen by NASA's SOHO

Massive geomagnetic solar storm to hit Earth

M9 Flare Update/Strong Radiation Storm

A cruise ship with over 4-thousand people on board has grounded off Italy's north-west coast. At least 3 bodies have been recovered, with more than a dozen others still missing. Most of those on board the Costa Concordia were evacuated from the vessel after it hit a reef near the Island of Giglio, late on Friday. Passengers reported a loud bang during dinner, and were told the ship had stopped because of electrical problems.