NASA warning as huge solar flare causes blackout with more to come
NASA warning as huge solar flare causes blackout with more to come
A massive solar flare is rotating into view on the surface of the Sun and will line up with the Earth
Illustration of a coronal mass ejection emanating from the Sun
Everything from Northern Lights displays to internet, TV, radio and sat-nav blackouts could be on the way in the next few days and weeks as huge solar flares send electromagnetic radiation hurtling towards the Earth. The Sun's rotation is bringing an active part of the star into view, and NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has already spotted a huge solar flare - categorised as the most powerful possible at X2.7.
The impact of radiation from the flare has already disrupted radio signals in the Middle East. High frequency radio signals were disrupted for 10 minutes, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
A NASA spokesman said ongoing solar eruptions could hit 'radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts'.
It comes as the Sun is at 'solar maximum' - the peak of its 11-year cycle. The star's magnetic poles have flipped and there is an increase in solar storms. This creates coronal mass ejections (CMEs), charged particles from the surface of the Sun which interact with Earth's atmosphere causing everything from tech blackouts to Northern Lights shows.
The Met Office space weather forecast reads: 'There are currently up to five sunspot regions on the facing side of the Sun, with a new, apparently magnetically unipolar region rotating into view over the southeastern solar horizon."
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Astronomers say sunspot AR4087 is coming into view and lining up with the Earth, increasing the chance of Northern Lights and blackouts. Aurora expert Vincent Ledvina said: "This is getting intense, especially as this active region turns closer into view.
"This same AR just produced an M5.3 flare a few hours ago. What does this AR have planned over the next days... we'll have to wait and see."
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