A powerful solar outburst, a coronal mass ejection (CME), is predicted to graze Earth this weekend, potentially causing minor power grid disruptions and triggering colorful auroras visible from much of the northern United States. This G1-class geomagnetic storm could bring auroras to unusually low latitudes, making them visible to millions across North America.
A powerful solar outburst, known as a coronal mass ejection ( CME ), is predicted to graze Earth this weekend, potentially triggering power grid disruptions and making colorful auroras visible from much of the northern U.S. The CME erupted from the sun on January 21st and is forecast to strike Earth's magnetic field late Friday night (January 24th) or early Saturday morning (January 25th), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The impact could trigger a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm — a temporary disruption to Earth's magnetic field that can result in radio blackouts, power grid fluctuations, satellite malfunctions, and other adverse effects. G1 events are the weakest class of geomagnetic storms and typically pass unnoticed by the vast majority of people.However, this particular CME is predicted to bring auroras to much lower latitudes than normal, potentially making the colorful skylights visible to millions of skywatchers in North America. If the solar storm hits this weekend, auroras could be visible in much of the northern U.S., including in northern Michigan and Maine. Auroras occur when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth's magnetic field, or magnetosphere. These particles skate along our planet's magnetic-field lines toward the North and South poles, striking atmospheric molecules along the way. Those molecules then become energized, emitting energy in the form of colorful light. The color of auroral light depends on the type of molecules being energized, which is also linked to their altitude in the atmosphere.While you might be able to see auroras with a powerful backyard telescope, the colors can appear brighter and crisper when viewed through a smartphone screen. That's because these devices are more sensitive to light than the human eye is, essentially letting more light in with a larger aperture. If you don't catch this weekend's auroras, don't fret; all forms of solar weather, including CMEs and the resulting geomagnetic storms, happen more frequently during the peak of the sun's 11-year activity cycle, known as solar maximum. Our star has just entered this phase of its current cycle.
Solar Storm CME Geomagnetic Storm Auroras North America
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