
Did you know the most powerful geomagnetic storm of the past 500 years occurred in 1859? This phenomena would later be known as the Carrington Event. Apart from the storm’s sheer intensity, why was it significant and what lessons can we learn from the Carrington Event... now and into the future.
4ZZZ's Toni Pankaluic spoke with Professor Jonti Horner, an Astronomer from the University of Southern Queensland.
For a deep dive...
Jonti recommends checking out the SpaceWeather website, where you can observe current conditions outside Earth. NASA also has comprehensive programs monitoring weather out in the cosmos.
You can read up on this news article (dated October 8, 1909) about a Perth goldminer’s first-hand observations during the Carrington Event. Or check out this Telegraph article (dated September 21, 2023) on the risks of potential solar storms.
Here's a fascinating research paper submitted to the Council of European Union called 'Solar Storms: A New Challenge on the Horizon?'.
Toni Pankaluic is a Journalist and contributor to Brisbane Line

Your 11AM Zedlines with Georgie, Lachlan, and Hailey

Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey

Your 9AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Hailey.

Your 8AM Zedlines with Lachlan and Georgie
Image Credit: Neil Sequira

Your 10AM Zedlines with Mack, Clementine and Livinia

Your 9AM Zedlines with Livinia, Mack and Clementine

Your 8AM Zedlines with Clementine and Livinia

Your 11am Zedlines with Sarah and Alannah

Your 10am Zedlines with Niamh and Miko

Your 9am Zedlines with Sarah and Alannah
image: Wikkimedia commons
Your 8am Zedlines with Niamh and Miko
image: Wikkimedia commons

Your 11AM Zedlines with Yuchen, Dan and Ethan
IMG: From wikimedia commons under CC3.0

Your 10AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Charlie

Your 9AM Zedlines with Dan, Yuchen and Ethan
IMG: From wikimedia commons under CC3.0

Your 8AM Zedlines with Asha, Ava and Charlie (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Your 11AM Zedlines with HG, Sarah, and Eden

Your 9AM Zedlines with HG, Alec, Eden, Sarah, and Vivek

Your 8AM Zedlines with Alec, Vivek, and Sarah

Your 11AM Zedlines with Cass, Hailey and Georgie.

Your 10AM Zedlines with Georgie and Hailey.

Your 9AM Zedlines with Cass and Hailey.
Image credit: Cory Doctorow

Your 8AM Zedlines with Cass and Georgie.
Image Credit: Mavio Silva

Your 8AM Zedlines with Livinia, Clem and Mack

Your 11am Zedlines with Ellen, Niamh and Alannah

Your 10am Zedlines with Ellen, Alannah and Niamh

Your 9am Zedlines with Alannah and Niamh
Your 8am Zedlines with Ellen and Alannah

Your 11AM Zedlines with Asha and Yuchen (Image via Wikimedia Commons)