The Sun has experienced a spike in activity in recent days that has seen six or seven eruptions on the surface of the star spit out solar material towards Earth. This could supercharge the Northern Lights and potentially cause disruption with infrastructure.

The Northern Lights are set to be visible across large parts of the UK overnight as a huge solar storm is going to hit Earth.

America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reportedly issued its first severe solar storm warning since 2005 yesterday as a huge geomagnetic storm races towards Earth - meaning it could be the most powerful experienced in almost two decades.

It’s set to hit overnight, and could supercharge the Northern Lights, making them visible in Scotland, northern England and Wales and even further south if conditions are right.

But the impressive Aurora Borealis could also potentially interfere with infrastructure, including the power grid and satellites when it hits.

  • twinnie@feddit.ukEnglish
    8·
    6 months ago

    Just to manage expectations, the northern lights don’t look nearly as good in real life. They look like night clouds.

    • apis@beehaw.orgEnglish
      2·
      6 months ago

      Mmmmmrrrm. Idk, saw them as a child & though I had not heard of them at the time & therefore had no expectations, not even the most dramatic, high-tech camera footage has come close to those moments.

      • Flax@feddit.ukEnglish
        2·
        6 months ago

        Kinda like well defined clouds with a shape to them and emit light