The solar storm of 1859, the largest…

September 1859 CE

The solar storm of 1859, the largest geomagnetic solar storm on record, causes the Northern Lights to be visible as far south as Cuba and knocks out telegraph communication (this is also called the Carrington event) from August 28 to September 2.

The associated "white light flare" in the solar photosphere is observed and recorded by British astronomers Richard C. Carrington (1826–1875) and Richard Hodgson (1804–1872).

A solar storm of this magnitude occurring today would cause widespread electrical disruptions, blackouts and damage due to extended outages of the electrical grid.

The solar storm of 2012 will be of similar magnitude, but it will pass Earth's orbit without striking the planet, missing by nine days.

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