In September 1859, the sun unleashed a solar flare so intense it was visible to the unaided human eye. A ferocious geomagnetic storm ensued in which Northern Lights descended as far south as Cuba, the Bahamas and Hawaii. Meanwhile, telegraph engineers disconnected their batteries and powered communications by electricity from the auroras! Could it happen again? Read today's story to find out.
FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/06may_carringtonflare.htm?list1052465
