If you’re looking for some free entertainment on a Wednesday night, tilt your head a little and you might just be treated to one of nature’s most spectacular light shows.
Last Sunday, July 21st, a massive explosion called a coronal mass ejection (CME) occurred on the surface of the Sun. This occurs when the strong magnetic field on the surface of the Sun is stretched to the point of destruction. Eventually, the magnetic field will burst, blasting a huge amount of solar particles into space, some of which may head towards Earth.
These particles are due to arrive on Wednesday, but don’t worry: They’re not dangerous to humans. In fact, they could set off a chain reaction that could result in vibrant auroras in parts of the US where they normally don’t appear. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the aurora appear The outbreak occurred on the evening of Wednesday, July 24th in northern and upper Midwestern states from New York to Idaho.
The bright, swirling lights of the aurora are caused by solar particles colliding with oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere. The molecules become excited by the collision, but begin to glow when they lose the energy they received. When there’s a particularly powerful explosion on the sun’s surface, like Sunday’s CME, an unusual amount of particles can be blasted toward Earth, causing auroras to form in unusual places.
Sunday’s solar storm, for example, OppenheimerFor a solar storm, it was fairly small: NOAA rated it a G2, making it the second weakest solar storm. varietyWhile not dangerous to humans, the storm’s effects pose a minor threat to some technology, potentially interfering with HF radio signals in some parts of the world, and may require satellites and other spacecraft to take corrective maneuvers to avoid damage.
The approaching storm Another solar storm occurred in May and was rated G4.During this memorable event, five separate CMEs occurred in a short space of time, combining energy and particles thanks to a sunspot roughly 16 times the width of Earth. The resulting aurora was visible as far south as Alabama.
