aurora borealis

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This Week's Sun 'Burp' Gave Us Quite a Show

Unusually strong solar storm made northern lights, aka aurora borealis, visible farther south than usual

(Newser) - Another in a series of unusually strong solar storms hitting Earth produced stunning skies Thursday night and early Friday full of pinks, purples, greens, and blues farther south than normal, including into parts of Germany, the United Kingdom, New England, and New York City. "It was a pretty extensive...

Severe Solar Storm Could Stress Power Grids Even More
US Issues
Severe
Solar Storm
Watch
Oct 10, 2024 12:30 AM CDT

US Issues Severe Solar Storm Watch

Geomagnetic storm could stress power grids even more

(Newser) - A severe solar storm is headed to Earth that could stress power grids even more as the US deals with major back-to-back hurricanes, space weather forecasters said Wednesday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for Thursday into Friday after an outburst from the sun...

It's the Biggest Solar Flare in Years

Northern lights could put on a show this weekend

(Newser) - Some wild solar weather has produced the biggest solar flare since 2017, and there's a good chance of seeing the northern lights in some areas over the weekend. On Thursday, the massive solar flare triggered shortwave radio blackouts in Europe and Africa, Space.com reports. It measured X9.05...

Northern Lights May Be Returning to Our Skies

Sunspot cluster that triggered recent viewings is back

(Newser) - The region of sunspots that delivered epic aurora viewing to people around the world earlier this month is back in sight, bringing more potential viewing opportunities as early as Friday. After rotating behind the western edge of the sun mid-month, the region of the sun formerly named Active Region 13664...

'Not Done Yet!' The Sun Emits Another Massive Solar Flare

This one appears to have only glanced Earth, so don't expect amazing auroras

(Newser) - The sun produced its biggest flare in nearly two decades Tuesday, just days after severe solar storms pummeled Earth and created dazzling northern lights in unaccustomed places, per the AP . "Not done yet!" the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced in an update. It's the biggest flare...

12 Stunning Photos of the Northern Lights

Aurora borealis puts on a weekend show

(Newser) - A powerful solar storm put on an amazing light show across the globe over the weekend, per the AP . In the US, sightings of the Northern Lights were logged as far south as Fort Lauderdale, Florida. People in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and other Midwestern states also got a...

The Sky Put On Quite a Show Last Night

Spectacular display of northern lights was visible throughout US, world due to powerful solar storm

(Newser) - An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth produced stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early Saturday, with no immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached...

NOAA Issues Rare Storm Watch for Weekend

Solar event headed toward Earth could disrupt communications, spur northern lights sightings

(Newser) - A strong solar storm headed toward Earth could produce northern lights in the United States and potentially disrupt communications this weekend. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare geometric storm watch—the first in nearly 20 years. The watch starts Friday and lasts all weekend, per the AP...

You Might Catch Some Cool Aurora Action Monday

Geomagnetic storm watch due to solar flare could also interfere with radio transmissions, per NOAA

(Newser) - Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday, saying an outburst of plasma from a solar flare could interfere with radio transmissions on Earth. It could also make for great aurora viewing. There's no reason for the public to be concerned, according to the alert issued...

Passenger Jets Do 360s Mid-Flight, Intentionally

EasyJet, Finnair passengers treated to views of northern lights

(Newser) - An easyJet flight turned around midair while flying from Iceland to the UK on Monday—though this detour left passengers pleased. There was no incident on board. Rather, the pilot decided to give passengers the best possible view of the northern lights, which were putting on a show over the...

Chance of Seeing Aurora From US Just Went Up

Strong geomagnetic storm could put on a show in some states

(Newser) - US skywatchers could be in for a rare sight: The northern lights could be seen as far south as Pennsylvania over the next several days amid the potential for a strong geomagnetic storm. Beginning Sunday, the sun sent out various bursts, including multiple coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, which Live...

Ancient Text Reveals Earliest Known Aurora Reference

Finding shows that Earth's magnetic pole has shifted since ancient times

(Newser) - Researchers may have discovered the earliest known record of an aurora. The reference to a "five-colored light" in the northern sky is nestled in the scrolls of the ancient Bamboo Annals, a chronicle of Chinese history written in the 4th century BCE. The event probably occurred around 1000 BCE...

Many in US May Glimpse Northern Lights This Weekend

Thanks to solar flare, aurora borealis may be visible in northern parts of the country, if all factors align

(Newser) - The bad news: A solar flare is about to slam into the Earth. The good news: Parts of the US may get quite the sky show because of it. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a level G3 (i.e., strong) "geomagnetic...

To Understand Northern Lights, 'Think About Surfing'
Scientist Say They Now Know
How an Aurora Occurs
new study
Jun 12, 2021 11:03 AM CDT

Scientist Say They Now Know How an Aurora Occurs

A group of physicists re-created the wave that causes the northern lights

(Newser) - Physicists say they know how the awe-inspiring aurora borealis light shows are formed and can for the first time prove it in a lab. It all has to do with surfing and waves. Electrons traveling to Earth can catch waves, called Alfvén waves, which pick them up and throw...

No Promises, but Aurora Borealis May Be Heading Our Way

Unpredictable sky show may appear in skies over northern United States on Thursday

(Newser) - The sun had a somewhat volatile week, and as a result, parts of the northern United States may get a rare sky show Thursday night . Per USA Today and AccuWeather , a solar flare burst out of the sun on Monday, producing a coronal mass ejection (CME)—a ball of plasma...

How 'Dancing Lights' Might Explain the Titanic Tragedy


A 'Greenish'
Light May Have
Sunk the Titanic
new study
Sep 26, 2020 4:30 PM CDT

A 'Greenish' Light May Have Sunk the Titanic

Weather researcher Mila Zinkova points to 'dancing lights' in the sky

(Newser) - The RMS Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in 1912, claiming over 1,500 lives—that we know. But what if the ill-fated collision was caused by dancing lights in the sky? So argues Titanic researcher Mila Zinkova in a new paper , the Smithsonian reports. "Most people who write...

You Might Be Able to See Northern Lights Sunday Night

Skywatchers in New York, New England, and the Dakotas could be in luck

(Newser) - Look up into the skies Sunday night and you might just get to see the aurora borealis, otherwise known as the Northern Lights. Scientists at the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center say that aurora lights, which are usually only seen in the extreme north and south of the globe,...

Sometimes Ordinary Sky Gazers Discover What Experts Cannot

They're calling it 'Steve,' and it is a hot ribbon of gas

(Newser) - Several avid northern lights watchers who call themselves Alberta Aurora Chasers on Facebook were sharing photographs at a talk when a professor at the University of Calgary noticed something strange. The citizen scientists were referring to a purple streak of light as a "proton arc," but no proton...

Cops Stop Erratic Drivers, Hear an Awesome Excuse

'Under the influence of the aurora'

(Newser) - It turns out the northern lights can be hazardous to humans. Police in Iceland pulled over two different drivers near the airport in Keflavík because they were swerving between lanes, reports Iceland Magazine . Police thought for sure they'd made DWI stops until the drivers, both foreign tourists, explained:...

Reykjavik Swaps City Lights for Even Better Ones

Iceland's capital turns off lights for aurora borealis viewing

(Newser) - The capital of an entire country went dark Wednesday night to give residents a better view of one of nature's most stunning light shows. The BBC reports Reykjavik switched off street lights in the center of the city and in various neighborhoods for better viewing of the aurora borealis,...

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