In today’s astro-news, spaceweather.com is reporting that we’ve just experienced the first X-flare of the new solar cycle — the effects of which should reach us here on Earth just before that Full Moon.
They define a solar flare as “an explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in twisted magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) is suddenly released. Flares produce a burst of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to x-rays and gamma-rays.” Flares come in three categories; X-level flares can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. Each category of flare has nine subdivisions; X2 (the level of yesterday’s flare) is therefore at the low end of the X category, but still big enough to affect life on Earth noticeably. According to the report:
Sunspot 1158 has unleashed the strongest solar flare in more than four years. The eruption, which peaked at 0156 UT on Feb. 15th, registered X2 on the Richter scale of solar flares. X-flares are the strongest type of solar flare, and this is the first such eruption of new Solar Cycle 24. In addition to flashing Earth with UV radiation, the explosion also hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) in our direction. The expanding cloud may be seen in this movie from NASA’s STEREO-B spacecraft. Geomagnetic storms are possible when the CME arrives 36 to 48 hours hence. Stay tuned for updates.
The solar cycle (also called the solar magnetic activity cycle), is observed “by counting the frequency and placement of sunspots visible on the Sun,” according to Wikipedia. It is generally referred to as an approximately 11-year cycle, and is responsible for changing the levels of irradiation experienced on Earth. This in turn “drives variations in space weather and to some degree weather on the ground and possibly climate change.”
The glossary entry for solar flares on spaceweather.com includes a graph for flares in July 2000, including one impressive category X6 flare nicknamed “the Bastille Day event.” Given the current atmosphere of revolution, reading that phrase today was an intriguing synchronicity to be sure.
Last night, I dreamt I was dancing at a Brazilian nightclub. I felt totally checked out and cruised by the guys in the room, which had the look of an old dance studio combined with the hallway leading to my real-life bedroom. It was a warm summer night and I was in a green midriff top, salsa bellbottoms, and gold slingback pumps.
Aquarius Sun, Neptune in Libra, Mars Aries, Pluto Leo, Venus Sag, Moon Gem.
Lotta sextile samba and salsa going on.
Brendan –
You hit it RIGHT ON the money. I have AQ sun, LEO asc, with LIB moon. The “restless” factor is multiplied exponentially.
One thing I was wondering if Eric can expound upon is that this Full Moon in Leo is conjunct the star Regulus in the Leo constellation(?). However, ALL of that is opposite Neptune in Aquarius. I honestly don’t know what it means. I’m assuming there is lots of potential for tension. Dunno…
Ummm, restless? Check. Horny? Check. Leo? Ascendant. Aquarius? Natal. ‘Nuff said. 😉
My son is an electrical engineer and shed some light on light this week. his company provides designer lighting as well as corporate. I learned that the make up areas at high end department stores use expensive pastel lights so women will look fabulous when they try on make up. All make up is pastel – artfully applied to reflect light, it creates quite an illusion. The car lots that use fancy lights sell a lot of cars, not just more cars, but a lot more cars. You don’t leave your money in Las Vegas because of the advertising. So beware of full moons. My guess is a full moon can fill your life with love and rewards, or make a damn fool of you, and it certainly brings light to what is real and isn’t real as it has not been tinkered with so much by engineers. It is hard to hide in real light. 🙂
Another one here with technicolor dreams and a feline restlessness. I guess not surprising given I’m a Leo, the scant astrology that I know!
Yes Amanda.. let’s wait till Friday.The Leo/Aquarius axis is very magnetic and these solar flares are amplifying the energy. Fertility abounds.
yup, kelly!
i had been thinking it was just my hormones this weekend combined with the gemini moon. i felt like i actually would have jumped a certain neighbor had he crossed my path sunday. seems to have abated a bit yesterday & today, but we’ll see what transpires between now & friday…
There’s also a lot of sexual tension in the air…
My sprig of Rosemary and I have been Daydreaming about Nightime Sexual Flares for many Moons now.
len — i don’t know if this is any closer to the mark, but here is how i started the post originally:
“So if you’ve been wondering about the strong, strange urges and desires surfacing in your dreams about group sex at night lately, this configuration may be an influence.
Or maybe that’s just me.”
😉
That explains the high bristling energy over the course of the last few days.
Amanda,
i have a lot of love for both you and Carol. Please forgive me for being forced to call a spade a spade. Would not hurt your feelings for the world.
really, len, you give me too much credit. the tip-off on the solar flare came from carol van strum, our news-watcher and -gatherer extraordinaire.
Amanda,
On to another subject. Please accept my affirmation and validation for being the fastest astrology site blogger in the West to nail the solar activity. You explained the system of defining and classifying solar flares very well. Thank you for the abundance of your gifts.
Don’t know what to say, Amanda. No offense intended. This is the last of five consecutive Full Moons in the last degree of their respective signs. The term otherwise typical simply does not apply. Perhaps Eric meant that it would look typical, weather permitting. Been counting down to this one for quite a while.
len — i was just following instructions from eric on that one, with his assurance he’d fill in some details later today. he’s had a busy one, though.
Ah, but I have just brought home a spring of Rosemary, to be planted Thursday prior to the fullness of said Moon.
(Yes; total non-sequitur.)
Amanda,
With all due respect this will not be an otherwise typical Full Moon in any way, shape or form. Please see the preview in my Monday blog. My Thursday blog will fill in the details as best as your simpleton correspondent is capable.