Have you lost the magic of Aurora? The northern lights will likely be visible again, and NASA confirms a new solar storm this week

Days after a powerful geomagnetic storm hit Earth, space scientists are considering the possibility of another storm this week. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there is a 60% chance that another solar storm will hit Earth on Tuesday or even Wednesday (lower chance). New forecasts have increased the possibility of seeing more aurora borealis in different parts of the world.

NASA’s social media page, which specifically tracks sun-related activities, confirmed a solar flare eruption on May 13, with the possibility of hitting Earth. Another one! An M6.6 solar flare erupted on Monday, May 13. (Not as strong as some of the other flares we saw last week, but it sure is pretty!) This week, we answer frequently asked questions about solar storms and their impact on Earth. Stay tuned !!”, the US space agency said in a post on the X website.

The aurora borealis, or “northern lights,” is a magical natural light that occurs mostly in the polar regions. These amazing phenomena occur when charged particles emitted from the sun, known as the solar wind, interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.

Solar storms and aurora borealis

Geomagnetic or solar storms occur when the Sun suddenly releases energy, such as a coronal mass ejection (CME). Charged particles from the Sun reach Earth and interact with its magnetic field, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations.

The intensity of solar storms is measured on the G scale, or geomagnetic storm scale. This scale ranges from G1 to G5, with each level representing different levels of geomagnetic activity. For example, a G1 storm could cause minor fluctuations in power grids, while a G5 storm could lead to widespread power outages and satellite communications outages.

On May 10, Earth was hit by a G5 solar storm after more than two decades. This intense geomagnetic activity was followed by observations of the aurora borealis in different parts of the world. The connection between these events is that solar storms can cause the Earth’s magnetic field to become more active, leading to an increased occurrence of aurora borealis. If more solar storms reach Earth, space enthusiasts can look forward to catching a glimpse of these amazing natural light displays.