Coronal mass ejections are a phenomenon that can send billions of tons of solar particles into space that can reach Earth one to three days later, affecting electronic systems in satellites and on the ground.
Experimental NASA research models estimate that the coronal mass ejection is traveling at around 700 miles per second and will reach Earth on September29, 2012.
NASA says that coronal mass ejections of these speeds are usually benign. In the past, similar coronal mass ejections have caused auroras near the poles but have not caused disruption to electrical systems or significantly interfered with GPS or satellite-based communications systems.
The coronal mass ejection is associated with a fairly small solar flare that was measured as C-class, which is third in strength after X- and M-class flares. The flare peaked at 7 p.m. EDT and came from an active region on the sun labeled AR 1577.
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