The solar storm that lit up Florida
The Weather Channel · Older
The Weather Channel
Older
August 1859. Floridians saw bright red and green auroras and thought the swamps were on fire. Days later, astronomer Richard Carrington spotted a massive white flash from the Sun at 11 AM. Seventeen hours later, the sky lit up so bright at 1 AM that gold miners made breakfast thinking it was morning. Telegraph systems surged with electricity, shocking operators unconscious.
Breakdown
- In 1859, bright red and green lights appeared in Florida's sky.
- Astronomer Richard Carrington observed a massive solar eruption. 12s
- The solar storm illuminated skies from North America to Panama at midnight. 18s
- The event, called the Carrington event, caused telegraph malfunctions. 29s
- NOAA satellites now monitor the sun to protect modern technology. 44s