Powerful solar flares could cause blackouts and spark vivid auroras NEXT WEEK
- A coronal hole will send solar winds towards Earth on April 23 and April 24
- There is a 75 per cent chance that this will lead to a geomagnetic storm
- Geomagnetic storms are responsible for creating stunning auroras
- But they can also cause havoc for the electrical power grid and satellites
If you're eager to see the Northern Lights, this week could be the time to get your binoculars at the ready.
A large hole in the sun's atmosphere is turning towards Earth, and could lead to a huge geomagnetic storm - the phenomenon that creates the Northern Lights.
However, the storms - predicted to peak on April 23 and April 24 - could also cause blackout chaos by interferring with power grids and satellites.
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Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the huge hole on April 21. Coronal holes are vast regions where the sun's magnetic field opens up and allows solar winds to escape
Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an image of a huge hole this morning.
Coronal holes are vast regions where the sun's magnetic field opens up and allows solar winds to escape.
Speaking to MailOnline, Dr Melanie Windridge, author of 'Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights', said: 'Coronal holes are regions on the sun where magnetic field lines open straight out into the solar system, so solar wind flow is unrestricted and can travel fast.
'The sun's magnetic field changes over an 11 year period, changing from a bar-magnet-type pattern with two poles to being very twisted up and eventually flipping over, so the north magnetic pole becomes south and vice versa.
'As the field is twisting and changing, coronal holes can form.'
This hole is expected to send solar winds our way on April 23 and April 24, and NOAA forecasters predict that there is a 75 per cent chance of a magnetic storm.
This isn't the first time that we have seen this coronal hole.
Last month, the hole lashed Earth's magnetic field with a fast-moving stream that led to vivid auroras around both of Earth's poles.
A large hole in the sun's atmosphere is turning towards Earth, and could lead to a huge geomagnetic storm - the phenomenon that creates the Northern Lights
The coronal hole is potent because it is spewing solar wind threaded with 'negative polarity' magnetic fields.
Such fields are especially good at connecting to Earth's magnetosphere and energising geomagnetic storms.
While these storms create stunning auroras, they could also cause havoc for the electrical power grid.
Auroras are created when charged particles from the sun enter Earth's atmosphere. Usually the particles are deflected by the Earth's magnetic field, but some enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles. These collisions emit light in many colours
The NOAA said: 'The principal users affected by geomagnetic storms are the electrical power grid, spacecraft operations, users of radio signals that reflect off of or pass through the ionosphere, and observers of the aurora.'
The geomagnetic storm isn't the only celestial event occurring this week.
Tonight, skywatchers in the US will be treated to a rare and spectacular celestial show — the first total solar eclipse visible from the US in nearly four decades.
The 'Great American Total Solar Eclipse' will darken skies all the way from Oregon to South Carolina, along a stretch of land about 70 miles (113 kilometres) wide.
Speaking to Space.com, Jay Pasachoff, an astronomer at Williams College in Massachusetts, said: 'It's a tremendous opportunity. It's a chance to see the universe change around you.'
The solar eclipse will first appear at 10:17am in Oregon, and will end at 2.46pm in South Carolina.
While these storms create stunning auroras, they could also cause havoc for the electrical power grid
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