Hatrack River Writers Workshop: The Thing From Outer Space

This is topic The Thing From Outer Space in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Nexus Capacitor (Member # 1694) on :

Keep watching the skies!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,101483,00.html

Here's the good bit from it:

quote:
strong geomagnetic storms can produce colorful auroras in the night sky visible as far south as Texas and Florida beginning late Wednesday

Take a break from writing (or whatever) for a few minutes tonight. Turn your eyes to the sky and refill your stores of wonder.

Posted by Kolona (Member # 1438) on :

Anyone know if this can harm computers? Better to leave computer off tonight?

Posted by Lord Darkstorm (Member # 1610) on :

quote:
Anyone know if this can harm computers? Better to leave computer off tonight?

As long as you have a nice surge suppressor (or battery backup) and a shielded case (most of them are) then you should be fine. If your case is more plastic than metal, and it will make you feel better then turn it off. But if you have a metal case then it shouldn't have a problem.

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

Be aware that surges caused by geo-magnetic storms can also go through your phone line, so if your surge protector doesn't protect your phone line, you might want to unplug your modem.

Turning your computer off won't protect it from a surge from the phone line, nor will it protect it from direct induction. But the level of induction that might affect something as small as a personal computer is pretty negligible. These inductive effects are only really felt by miles long stretches of wire.

In any case, I urge you to turn off your computer when it isn't being used for more than an hour, since this saves energy.