According to Daily Mail, this fireball – actually made of plasma – originates from a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is the most direct and powerful attack that our parent star can deliver to us.
A series of solar storms (geomagnetic storms) have hit Earth in recent days, with the CME adding to the chaos like a sudden tornado.
The forecast map from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows a vast area of auroras – (Photo: NOAA)
This CME originates from AR2987, a very large sunspot that was previously thought to be “dead,” meaning it was inactive. However, it has unexpectedly reawakened and launched a type C fireball on April 11, and today, this powerful projectile will strike: Earth.
The Live Science website quotes solar physicist Philip Judge from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) stating that the notion of a “dead” sunspot carries a somewhat poetic meaning. In reality, they can completely reactivate with more magnetism than before – of course, accompanied by a stronger blast than before.
According to forecasts from astronomers, this fireball is so powerful that it will cause the auroras to illuminate a vast area. Instead of being limited to just the Arctic region as usual, now areas in northern Michigan, USA, or Scotland and other northern regions of England may also witness the auroras.
Unfortunately, accompanying the ethereal “northern lights” is always a major issue: magnetic disturbances in Earth’s magnetosphere, which can affect telecommunications, navigation systems, and even the power grid.
