Seems this thread diverged from effects caused by a beautiful natural phenomena and any untoward reprocusions on Earth into a back and forth about a man caused countdown to y2k.
Again, the sun has cycles and is currently increasing in activity. There were multiple powerful flares causing multiple CME's (Coronal Mass Ejections) directed at the earth. The initial strike of radiation (mins) increased the ionospheric ionization on the Sunlit side causing radio blackouts (HF radio, gps inacuracies, risk to astronauts, polar airline flights, etc). Thankfully, Earth has a powerful magnetospere and when the particles reach the Earth in days, they are directed along the magnetic fields toward the poles creating the Aurora phenomena as they strike the atmosphere.The glow is the different molecules they strike. Red and green are oxygen, purple, blue or pink are caused by nitrogen. If the CME's are more powerful large currents are induced in the Earth's surface and consequently, power lines, and other long electrical pathways if the magnetic Space and Earth fields are aligned. Fascinating stuff.
Spaceweather.com Time Machine
And:
Spaceweather.com Time Machine
Last big one was October 29 and 30, 2003. My son and I were fortunate to be in the darkest sky on the East coast, Cherry Spings Park, PA, during the yearly Astronomy Club's Star Party. What a treat. Tried to call my wife near Phila but the cell phones were not as reliable then and the event worsened communication.
Just a moment...
I already posted the first recognized flare, CME, Aurora, and ground effects event that was recognized as connecting this from the Sun to the Earth by Carrington:
The Carrington Event: History's greatest solar storm | Space
It induced large currents in the telegraph equipment of the time since lines acted like large antennas/inductors.
The one we saw in 2003 was noted at the spacewearher site:
Spaceweather.com Time Machine
These events happen all the time on a smaller scale. The one we just witnessed is estimated as a 1 in 500 year event.