A minor geomagnetic storm could bring auroras to higher latitudes, including parts of the United States, on Christmas Day. Space weather experts predict a CME will cause the storm, resulting in stunning light displays in the sky.
An incoming coronal mass ejection ( CME ) could spread aurora cheer this Christmas. Its anticipated arrival is predicted to spark minor geomagnetic storm conditions with auroras possible at high latitudes, such as northern Michigan and Maine. CME s bring electrically charged particles called ions that collide with our planet's magnetic field. These collisions can spark geomagnetic storms. During these storms, ions collide with atmospheric gases, releasing energy that manifests as light.
This creates the stunning displays known as auroras. Geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale, which ranks their intensity from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). The recent geomagnetic storm watch issued by NOAA is currently rated as a G1, indicating minor storm conditions.Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors A set of #solarstorms comes in time for the holiday festivities! A wispy storm is expected on the 24th, with bigger impacts following. #Aurora possible to mid-latitudes on Christmas Day. Amateur #radio & #GPS operators expect moderate noise on the dayside radio bands this week. pic.twitter.com/CY3EbhO3hJ, much like Earth's weather, is unpredictable and difficult to forecast. Even though geomagnetic storm warnings at this level are rare, they can occasionally amount to nothing.If you're interested in tracking space weather and knowing when and where to spot auroras, download a space weather app that provides forecasts based on your location. One option I use is'My Aurora Forecast & Alerts,' available for both to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at:magazine as a staff write
AURORAS SOLAR STORM SPACE WEATHER CME GEO MAGNETIC STORM
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