A recent solar storm caused vibrant auroras and a rare phenomenon: a ‘two-way highway’ between the Sun and Earth. NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft captured the event, revealing incredible colors and a temporary disappearance of the bow shock, resulting in charged particles being redirected back to the Sun.
A strong geomagnetic storm, classified as G4, struck Earth on August 12th, causing auroras to be visible in several states along the US-Canada border. Though the storm has subsided, it briefly disrupted satellite communication and power grids. The event highlights the potential impact of solar storms on our technology and the beauty they can bring to our skies.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released its observations of the recent powerful solar storm, which was the strongest to hit Earth in decades. The organization revealed the India-related impacts of the storm and highlighted the observations made by its Aditya L1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions. India was less affected due to its lower latitude and early morning occurrence of the storm’s peak impact. Aditya L1 captured the enhancement of alpha particle and proton flux, while Chandrayaan-2 detected the solar flares from lunar polar orbit.
Over the weekend, a solar storm sent a wave of energetic particles towards Earth, triggering a spectacular display of the aurora borealis. The aurora was visible in both the northern and southern hemispheres, and in some cases reached as far south as Hawaii. If you were lucky enough to witness the aurora, you might be wondering what exactly was going on. The aurora is caused by charged subatomic particles, mostly electrons, that smash into Earth’s atmosphere. These particles are emitted from the Sun all the time, but there are more during times of greater solar activity. Most of our atmosphere is protected from the influx of charged particles by Earth’s magnetic field. But near the poles, they can sneak in and wreak havoc.
Skygazers across the UK, US, Europe, and Canada have witnessed an awe-inspiring display of the Northern Lights, known as aurora borealis. For three consecutive nights, the skies were illuminated with vibrant hues of green, pink, and purple, reaching their peak on Sunday night when the phenomenon was visible in major UK cities. This extraordinary celestial event, triggered by a ‘G3’ category geomagnetic storm, served as a reminder of the sun’s profound influence on Earth and the need for preparedness against its unpredictable nature.
Spectacular auroras illuminated the skies across the globe for a second consecutive night due to a powerful solar storm. The celestial light show, typically reserved for far northern regions, has been observed from the United States to Tasmania and even Australia. While the auroras were less intense than the previous night, excitement surged worldwide with awe-inspiring photos of vibrant pink, green, and purple night skies.
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.
A rare celestial event, the auroras, are expected to be visible across various parts of the globe for the second consecutive night on May 11. Caused by a massive solar storm, these captivating displays already mesmerized viewers worldwide on May 10. The intensity of the solar storm escalated to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, marking the first instance since the “Halloween Storms” in October 2003.
The celestial event was the result of a large solar storm caused by two active regions on the sun, which ejected 16 ‘X-class’ solar X-ray flares over the past month, an occurrence not seen in over 20 years. The aurora borealis was particularly stunning in Saskatchewan, which is renowned for its exceptional stargazing and aurora viewing conditions.
A powerful solar storm has sparked captivating skyward light displays worldwide, including vibrant Northern Lights in San Bernardino County. Geomagnetic storm conditions are extreme, leading to potential impacts on power grids and communications systems. NOAA predicts the strong solar flares to persist through Sunday while urging precaution for power plants, spacecraft, and FEMA. SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service has reported degraded service due to the solar pressure. The storm, one of the strongest in recorded history, poses a risk to high-voltage transmission lines and satellites, potentially disrupting navigation and communication services.
