Punches from the sun overwhelm skywatchers these days.
Another series of Solar flares (Opens in a new tab) The series shined from the sun on Friday (August 26th) after a dazzling green show twilight (Opens in a new tab) It crashed into the atmosphere just days ago.
Sunspot AR3089 mounts with an intense M Series Series [moderate] solar flares” SpaceWeather.com (Opens in a new tab) He said in an update on Friday. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory caught a particularly strong glow at 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) as residents in Europe and Africa experienced a brief radio blackout.
Huge ejection of charged particles from the sun (Opens in a new tab)known as a coronal mass ejection, could hit our planet on Monday (August 29) and send out auroras around the Arctic Circle, according to statement (Opens in a new tab) From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (These bright lights occur when charged particles interact with them Earth’s magnetic field (Opens in a new tab).)
The sun sure feels powerful these days, as it’s generating a boom space climate (Opens in a new tab) To announce the start of its 11-year limit solar cycle (Opens in a new tab) of activity.
Related: The hyperactive sunspot has just cast a massive X-class solar flare into space (Opens in a new tab)
Swarms of northern and southern lights have been observed Earlier this week (Opens in a new tab), including seen from space by Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency. (The veteran astronaut said it was the strongest storm in space in 300 days.)
Most space climate (Opens in a new tab) At its most dramatic, it makes a great show for people on or near Earth, but a small number of particularly powerful storms can damage power lines, satellites, and other vital infrastructure on which our planet depends.
The sun is more likely to calm its tantrums when it reaches its maximum activity, as sunspots spread to the surface and magnetic streaks twist and turn. If the storm is directed towards a land (Opens in a new tab)which can create the aurora borealis, blackouts and other effects.
Related: Worst solar storms in history (Opens in a new tab)
NASA, the European Space Agency and other space-faring entities monitor solar weather 24/7 to provide the best possible protection for Earth, satellite managers and astronauts working on our planet.
If you’ve ever taken an amazing photo of the northern lights, let us know! You can send photos and comments to Space.com by email [email protected] (Opens in a new tab). Be sure to tell us your name, where you’ve been observing and what it’s like to see the aurora borealis.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter Tweet embed (Opens in a new tab). Follow us on Twitter Tweet embed (Opens in a new tab) or on Facebook (Opens in a new tab).
Originally published on sister site Live Science Space.com.
“Web maven. Infuriatingly humble beer geek. Bacon fanatic. Typical creator. Music expert.”
More Stories
When will the astronauts launch?
Prehistoric sea cow eaten by crocodile and shark, fossils say
FAA orders investigation into SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landing failure