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coronal mass ejection
Trends
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A massive cloud of plasma has been ejected from the Sun, prompting widespread attention to its possible path toward Earth. Solar eruptions of this kind, known as coronal mass ejections, can trigger geomagnetic storms, auroras, and disruptions to satellites, power grids, and communications if they strike our planet.
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Forecasters say multiple coronal mass ejections are heading toward Earth, prompting a G2 geomagnetic storm watch for October 8-9. The northern lights could be visible across as many as 28 US states, mainly in northern parts of the country. Skywatchers are being advised to look north away from city lights on clear nights.
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The northern lights illuminated skies across the UK, with aurora sightings reported over large parts of the country. The display comes as NOAA issued a G2 moderate geomagnetic storm watch for October 9, with a coronal mass ejection heading toward Earth raising chances of aurora across the northern United States on October 8-9. Interest is also boosted by new spacecraft imagery capturing a burst of aurora around the North Pole, including the SMILE satellite ending an 18-year observation gap.
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Forecasters say three coronal mass ejections from the sun are heading toward Earth, potentially pushing the aurora borealis as far south as 28 US states this weekend. Forbes reports the auroras could be visible in areas that rarely see them, prompting skywatchers across the country to prepare for possible displays and check forecasts for cloud cover and timing.
- 5Predicting Solar Storms Remains a Major Scientific Challenge▼Space Week: Why Predicting Solar Storms Remains One of Science’s Biggest Challenges
During Space Week, attention is turning to why solar storms remain so difficult to forecast. Scientists can track sunspot activity and coronal mass ejections, but predicting exactly when and where a solar storm will strike Earth is still unreliable. With modern power grids, satellites and communications increasingly vulnerable to space weather, improving forecasting is seen as a growing priority for space agencies and energy infrastructure planners.