Scientists have observed a record-breaking number of sunspots in recent days, marking the highest daily sunspot number in over 20 years. This surge in solar activity has triggered powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), resulting in geomagnetic storms on Earth, including stunning auroral displays.
The breathtaking aurora borealis, triggered by solar flares, is anticipated to grace the skies once more on Sunday night in various regions of the United States. This celestial spectacle will be visible as the geomagnetic storm persists. Forecasts indicate that the northern lights will be most prominent in areas with darker skies. However, cloudy conditions in the central US may hinder visibility. Nonetheless, clear skies are predicted in much of the West, as well as in the region stretching from Ohio to the Mid-Atlantic, and potentially in North Dakota and Minnesota.
The sun is experiencing an unprecedented surge in activity, unleashing a series of powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections. This surge has culminated in the strongest solar storm in two decades, striking Earth on May 10th, 2024. The heightened activity has painted the skies with spectacular auroral displays, visible across Europe and parts of the United States, regions that typically do not experience such phenomena. As the sun approaches its peak activity phase, solar maximum, these events are expected to become more frequent and intense.
A brilliant display of the Northern Lights has illuminated the skies in various regions for the second consecutive night due to a potent solar storm. This phenomenon, originating from the Sun’s solar eruptions, is expected to persist into Sunday, offering breathtaking views of the celestial spectacle typically found in the planet’s far northern latitudes.
The aurora borealis, a mesmerizing natural phenomenon, has made a rare appearance in the Indian skies above Ladakh’s Hanle region, defying its typical visibility in high-latitude Arctic and Antarctic regions. This captivating display, also known as the Northern Lights, occurred on May 11 at around 1 a.m., with a distinctive reddish arc emerging at 34-36°N. This occurrence coincides with a severe (G4) Geomagnetic storm, as classified by NOAA’s scale, making this an extraordinary event for mid-latitudes. Additionally, the aurora borealis has graced the night skies of Europe and China, with sightings reported in countries such as Russia, Germany, and Tasmania.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued an alert warning of a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm expected to hit Earth on May 10-12, 2024. This is the first storm of this magnitude since January 2005. The storm is caused by multiple Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that are expected to merge and arrive on Earth late May 10 or early May 11. The storm has the potential to disrupt infrastructure, including communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio, and satellite operations. However, it may also cause spectacular displays of aurora in northern states of the US, Canada, and northern Europe.
AR3664, an enormous sunspot on the Sun’s surface, has erupted with numerous powerful solar flares, including a colossal X-class flare that caused shortwave radio blackouts in Europe and Africa. The giant sunspot, spanning over 124,000 kilometers, is 15 times wider than Earth and can be observed without magnification. While similar in size to the infamous Carrington sunspot of 1859, scientists do not currently anticipate a Carrington Event from ongoing solar activity.
