Spectacular aurora borealis displays are expected across the northern hemisphere on Wednesday
Thanks to a coronal mass ejection from the sun, the northern hemisphere will witness stunning aurora borealis displays on Wednesday, according to Russian scientists.
Following a two-week lull in solar activity, a class-M 8.9 solar flare erupted on Monday—just below the class-X threshold. This flare originated from sunspot group 3932, a region under close observation by astronomers due to its anticipated alignment with the sun-earth line within the next 5-7 days.
“A portion of the coronal mass ejection may graze our planet on the afternoon of December 25,” Mikhail Leus of Moscow’s ‘Phobos’ weather center reported on his Telegram channel Tuesday.
“Predictions suggest a resulting G1 or G2 magnetic storm,” he added.
Leus explained that Monday’s flare occurred at a 40-degree angle to the sun-earth line, accounting for the anticipated mild nature of the storm. While its duration is projected to be 8-10 hours, it could potentially extend up to 30 hours.
Beyond the auroral displays, Wednesday’s solar storm might cause some high-frequency (HF) radio disruptions and affect satellite operations. There’s also a potential radiation risk for astronauts and those on high-altitude flights.
A previous X9 flare on October 10 triggered a severe geomagnetic storm (G4). While this event had the capacity to disrupt power grids and cause radio blackouts, the actual technological impact was relatively minor. However, it did result in aurora borealis sightings as far south as California.