In 1859 operators sent messages without power as the Sun took control. In 1859, Earth was struck by a massive solar storm now known as the Carrington Event. Auroras lit the sky across the globe, visible as far south as the Caribbean. Telegraph systems across the United States and Europe malfunctioned violently. Wires sparked, paper caught fire, and operators were shocked as electric currents surged through equipment. In several offices, operators disconnected their batteries entirely — yet messa