Community Corner

Biggest Solar Storm In Years to Bring Spectacular Auroras

Watch for northern lights display tonight, astronomers say.

By: Denise Chow
Published: 03/07/2012 06:16 PM EST on SPACE.com

A massive solar storm may spark an intense northern lights display for skywatchers at high latitudes tonight and Thursday (March 8) as a wave of charged particles reach the planet.

Two huge solar flares erupted from the sun late Tuesday (March 6), triggering one of the most powerful solar storms in more than five years. The solar tempest is expected to intensify aurora displays (also known as the northern and southern lights) on Earth, according to space weather scientist Joseph Kunches, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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"Auroras are probably the treat that we get when the sun erupts," Kunches told reporters today (March 7).

One of the big sun flares unleashed a cloud of solar plasma and charged particles, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), into space. While the CME is not expected to hit Earth directly, the wave could deliver a glancing blow to the planet.

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The CME, which is traveling at roughly 4 million mph (6.4 kph), is expected to reach Earth tomorrow morning at around 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT), Kunches said. But, material could arrive at the planet as early as 1:25 a.m. EST (0625 GMT), plus or minus 7 hours, according to NASA scientists. [Photos of the big solar flares]

 As the energetic particles impact Earth's magnetic field, aurora displays could be amplified for well-placed skywatchers around the world.

"Skywatchers at all latitudes should be alert for auroras," astronomer Tony Phillips wrote on his website Spaceweather.com, which regularly monitors space weather events.

A bright, nearly full moon will also be competing for dominance, but provided the weather is clear, lucky skywatchers could be treated to spectacular aurora displays, Kunches said.


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