---
title: "Sun sends a gigantic cloud of particles shooting our way"
description: "A solar flare coupled with the explosion of cool gas stretched across the Sun's northern hemisphere on the 1st of August, sending a large cloud of electrically charged particles towards the Earth, and it could hit us any moment now. You may go about your day in peace though, nothing more severe than a few aurorae at the poles, and maybe a damaged satellite or two are expected. Read more: New Scientist"
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Sci-Tech"
author: "Andy Rice"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/andyrice/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2010-08-03-sun-sends-a-gigantic-cloud-of-particles-shooting-our-way/"
published: "2010-08-03T09:05:13"
updated: "2013-02-01T20:02:59"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 1
---

# Sun sends a gigantic cloud of particles shooting our way

> A solar flare coupled with the explosion of cool gas stretched across the Sun's northern hemisphere on the 1st of August, sending a large cloud of electrically charged particles towards the Earth, and it could hit us any moment now. You may go about your day in peace though, nothing more severe than a few aurorae at the poles, and maybe a damaged satellite or two are expected. Read more: [New Scientist](http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19252-the-sun-sends-a-charged-cloud-hurtling-our-way.html)

By Andy Rice · Published 3 August 2010, 11:05 SAST · Updated 1 February 2013, 22:02 SAST

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