A major astronomical event is taking place across parts of the U.S. right now, and it has the potential to wreak havoc on GPS. That raises questions about the trucking industry’s reliance on GPS and what would happen if truckers lost navigation today.
The event in question is one of the most powerful solar storms to be forecast in the past 20 years. It is occurring across the continental U.S., and it has the astronomy community abuzz with excitement. The storm watch began Friday and will remain in effect until Sunday.
Many stargazers are thrilled by the possibility of catching a glimpse of aurorae, lights that appear in the sky due to solar energy and particles traveling down the Earth’s magnetic field. If you’re seeing these lights closer to the North Pole, they are commonly known as the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. This weekend the solar storm could bring them closer tto Americans in the Lower 48 states as well.
But the storm could also bring technological turmoil.