Nasa captures stunning footage of a powerful solar flare which could cause blackouts and spark auroras TODAY

  • Nasa captured the stunning footage of the sun over 20 hours  
  • The coronal hole is expected to send solar winds towards Earth today
  • There is a 75 per cent chance that this will lead to a geomagnetic storm
  • Geomagnetic storms are responsible for creating stunning auroras 

Last week, Nasa warned that a large hole in the sun's atmosphere was turning towards Earth, which could lead to a huge geomagnetic storm.

The space agency has now released a stunning video showing cascades of charged particles spilling from the hole.

This hole was expected to send solar winds our way yesterday and today, and forecasters predicted that there was a 75 per cent chance of a magnetic storm.

The storm could create stunning auroras around around the world, as well as play havoc with power grids, potentially causing blackouts in some areas.

Scroll down for video 

WHAT ARE AURORAS? 

There are two types of auroras - Aurora Borealis, which means 'dawn of the north', and Aurora Australis, 'dawn of the south.'

The lights 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 although pale green and pink are common. 

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Storms such as this, classed as a G2 storms, also have the ability to affect plane and military radio systems and spacecraft operations.

According to the NOAA, high-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms, while spacecrafts may be forced to change their orientations. 

Aurora are most likely to be visible in the UK in Scotland and in the US, the lights are predicted to be seen in northern areas including South Dakota, Iowa, Montana and Washington.

Elsewhere, you might be able to spot them in southern Norway, southern Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and across central Russia.

The video shows the loops flooding out from an active region of the sun's surface. 

The video shows the loops flooding out from an active region of the sun's surface. The bright loops are charged particles spinning along the magnetic field lines

The video shows the loops flooding out from an active region of the sun's surface. The bright loops are charged particles spinning along the magnetic field lines

Nasa said: 'We have observed this phenomenon numerous times, but this one was one of the longest and clearest sequences we have seen in years.

'The bright loops are actually charged particles spinning along the magnetic field lines.'

The mesmerising footage was captured over about 20 hours.

This hole was expected to send solar winds our way yesterday and today, and forecasters predicted that there was a 75 per cent chance of a magnetic storm - the phenomenon responsible for the Northern Lights

This hole was expected to send solar winds our way yesterday and today, and forecasters predicted that there was a 75 per cent chance of a magnetic storm - the phenomenon responsible for the Northern Lights

Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory also captured an image of the huge hole last week.

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. 

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 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

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

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

'As the field is twisting and changing, coronal holes can form.'

This hole was predicted to send solar winds our way on April 23 and April 24, and NOAA forecasters predicted that there was a 75 per cent chance of a magnetic storm.

This isn't the first time that we have seen this coronal hole.

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

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

WHERE TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS 

According to Auroroa Watch, Aurora may be visible in the UK by eye from Scotland and may be visible by camera from Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland.

In the US, the lights are predicted to be visible in northern areas including South Dakota, Iowa, Montana and Washington.

Elsewhere, you might be able to spot them in southern Norway, southern Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and across central Russia.

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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.

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.  

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.' 

While these storms create stunning auroras, they could also cause havoc for the electrical power grid

While these storms create stunning auroras, they could also cause havoc for the electrical power grid

HOW SOLAR WINDS ARE FORMED

Views of the solar wind from NASA's STEREO spacecraft (left) and after computer processing (right). Scientists used an algorithm to dim the appearance of bright stars and dust in images of the faint solar wind

The sun and its atmosphere are made of plasma – a mix of positively and negatively charged particles which have separated at extremely high temperatures, that both carries and travels along magnetic field lines.

Material from the corona streams out into space, filling the solar system with the solar wind. 

But scientists found that as the plasma travels further away from the sun, things change. The sun begins to lose magnetic control, forming the boundary that defines the outer corona – the very edge of the sun. 

The breakup of the rays is similar to the way water shoots out from a squirt gun.

First, the water is a smooth and unified stream, but it eventually breaks up into droplets, then smaller drops and eventually a fine, misty spray. 

The images in a Nasa study capture the plasma at the same stage where a stream of water gradually disintegrates into droplets.

If charged particles from solar winds hit Earth's magnectic field, this can cause problems for satellite and communication equipment.

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