A powerful solar storm “cannibal”formed by the fusion of two plasma clouds, is heading towards Earth. The phenomenon could trigger spectacular aurora borealis, visible much further south than usual.
Astronomy enthusiasts could be treated to a rare display of the aurora borealis as a powerful solar storm heads towards Earth, pushing the northern lights further south than usual, according to Express.co.uk.
Experts say the phenomenon could be visible far beyond the polar regions, in parts of Europe and the United States, after a huge cloud of charged solar material formed a rare “cannibal storm”.
The event began on June 2 when active region 4455, an unstable area on the Sun’s surface, became increasingly volatile. The disturbance triggered a series of X-class solar flares, some of the most powerful types of solar flares on record.
At the same time, the Sun ejected several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) into space. These huge clouds of magnetized plasma can weigh billions of tons and travel at speeds up to about 1,200 miles per second.
One of the later eruptions accelerated rapidly and caught up with an earlier, slower ejection. The faster cloud collided and merged with the first, forming what scientists call an o “Cannibal CME”.
According to NASA researchers, such collisions can generate the so-called “complex waste”magnetic structures that can carry significantly more energy than a typical solar flare.
When these amplified plasma clouds reach Earth’s magnetic field, they can trigger stronger and longer-lasting geomagnetic storms.
Researchers estimate that less than one in ten sunspots exhibit this inverted configuration. This unusual magnetic structure can make those regions particularly unstable, increasing the likelihood of frequent and powerful eruptions.
Space meteorologists predict that the combined solar storm will reach Earth late on June 4 or in the early hours of June 5. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a warning for a severe G3 geomagnetic storm and said it could escalate to a severe G4 event.
Increased solar activity could produce particularly spectacular aurora borealis as charged particles interact with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Oxygen and nitrogen are energized in the process, generating the colorful spectacles associated with the northern lights.
Because of the intensity of the storm, experts believe the northern lights could be visible much further south than normal, giving many more people the chance to see the phenomenon.
