Representational image
(NASA/SDO)
Our Sun is throwing a celestial punch party, unleashing a flurry of solar flares like fireworks across its fiery surface. Christmas Eve, in particular, was a cosmic light show, with two particularly dazzling M2.9 and M2.6 eruptions from a sunspot region dubbed the AR3529. In addition, another M1.1 flare peeked out from beyond the star’s edge, adding to the spectacle.
Solar flares are massive explosions on the Sun, capable of heating material to millions of degrees instantaneously. They come in three types, with M-class flares being the medium-sized ones capable of causing brief radio blackouts over Earth’s poles.
However, the real star of the show this time might be a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), a colossal cloud of charged particles the Sun spat out over the weekend. This celestial behemoth, containing about a billion tons or so of the Sun’s plasma, is born from the dramatic eruptions of solar filaments — massive plasma structures on the Sun. Now, the eruption from December 24 is hurtling towards Earth, aiming for a possible late-night rendezvous on December 27.
Fortunately, current forecasts only suggest a “grazing blow,” over the north of our planet, suggesting the CME might just skim past our planet’s magnetic field, leaving us with a cosmic tickle instead of a full-on geomagnetic storm.
Meanwhile, one more filament eruption has birthed another CME, but its trajectory is even more of a puzzle. Scientists are analysing the data, trying to decipher its next move.
So, what can we expect from this celestial tango? If the CME gives Earth a high-five, our planet might witness a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm on Wednesday when it strikes. G1 storms are the weakest of the bunch (G5 being the strongest), occurring approximately on 900 days over an 11-year cycle.
Due to the storm, some places in high-latitude regions may witness a dazzling display of auroras dancing across the skies. Power grids and satellites might experience some minor jitters, like phones glitching during a bad signal. Astronauts and airline crews might encounter a bit more radiation, and migratory birds may also experience difficulty navigating.
While NASA and other space agencies employ a plethora of models to measure the when and what of solar phenomena to a fairly accurate degree, they aren’t always 100% accurate, until the CME ventures close enough to our planet. Either way, it’s a reminder that our Sun is worth keeping an eye on.
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Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
