All articles tagged with #coronal mass ejection
A powerful M5.7 solar flare on May 10 released a CME that mostly misses Earth but could graze our planet, raising the chance of northern lights across high latitudes in the coming days. NOAA and the UK Met Office forecast a weak geomagnetic storm around May 13 as sunspot regions AR4436 and AR4432 evolve, with potential for more activity and even X-class flares in the near term.
A powerful M5.7 solar flare from sunspot AR4436 on May 10 produced a CME that could skim Earth around May 13, potentially triggering minor geomagnetic storms and visible auroras at high latitudes; a radio blackout was reported over the Atlantic during the event, and forecasters warn more solar activity may follow as sunspots evolve.
Two X2.5 solar flares erupted from sunspot AR4419 on the Sun’s western limb within seven hours, triggering radio blackouts on Earth’s dayside. The flares were the strongest in about 78 days; while a direct CME impact is unlikely, forecasters warn a glancing blow could spark geomagnetic activity and auroras. A preceding “sympathetic” flare involved eruptions from two sunspot regions on opposite sides of the Sun.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center warns of a G2 geomagnetic storm on March 19 (UTC) as multiple coronal mass ejections head toward Earth. The activity could push the auroral oval far south, with potential sightings in mid-latitudes including Illinois and New York, depending on CME timing and local conditions. Impacts could begin as early as 11 p.m. ET on March 18, with strongest activity 2–8 a.m. ET on March 19 and possibly lingering into March 20, and a wider window increases the chance for aurora displays given clear skies and favorable magnetic orientation.
NOAA SWPC forecasts the Northern Lights will be visible tonight across 10 northern U.S. states (including Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine) due to solar winds and a coronal mass ejection; best viewing from about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. under dark skies away from city lights, with additional chances around the March 20 spring equinox.
Four X-class solar flares (X1.0, X8.1, X2.8, X1.6) erupted from sunspot group RGN 4366 on Feb 1–2, 2026, signaling lively space weather with potential energetic particle events and possible coronal mass ejections. Forecasters say more activity could follow as the active region evolves, with potential impacts on satellites, communications, and power grids if Earth-directed CMEs occur.
NOAA reports an X8.1 flare from active region 4366, with CME modeling indicating much of the ejected material will pass by Earth to the north and east late Feb 5 UTC, potentially delivering glancing effects. The region remains highly active with ongoing M and X-class flares, and forecasters expect more activity in the coming days.
Over a 24-hour period the Sun released a barrage of flares from sunspot AR4366, including at least 18 M-class and three X-class events (peaking at X8.3), triggering radio blackouts in parts of the South Pacific and eastern Australia/New Zealand. AR4366 is rapidly growing and could produce more eruptions; a CME is expected but likely to miss Earth or only glance Earth around Feb. 5, potentially elevating high-latitude aurora activity. Forecasters warn conditions remain uncertain as activity continues.
NOAA reports an X8.1 solar flare from Region 4366; the associated CME is expected to pass by Earth to the north and east with possible glancing impacts around Feb 5 UTC; forecasters anticipate continued activity from this region in the coming days.
A powerful solar radiation storm triggered by an X-class solar flare and a CME struck Earth, producing widespread auroras across Europe and parts of North America, with sightings as far south as Southern California. The storm peaked at G4 (severe) on the geomagnetic scale per NOAA’s SWPC. While dramatic, it wasn’t the strongest in two decades (the 2024 Mother’s Day event held that distinction), but it did set a 23-year record for solar-radiation storms.
Earth is under a severe geomagnetic storm (G4, potentially reaching G5) triggered by a large coronal mass ejection and fast solar wind after an X1.9 flare, fueling strong auroras that could appear at unusually low latitudes; a radiation storm (S4, now subsiding to S2) also poses risks to spacecraft, aviation, and satellites, while power grids and communications may be affected as Earth's magnetic field responds to ongoing solar wind.
A massive coronal mass ejection from the Sun is expected to slam into Earth, potentially lighting up the night sky with auroras across as many as 24 U.S. states tonight (Jan. 19) as geomagnetic activity increases.
A powerful X-class solar flare and a fast coronal mass ejection could spark auroral displays much farther south than usual tonight—potentially visible from parts of California, the central Plains, and the Mid-Atlantic, with even deeper-south areas possible. NOAA has issued a rare G4 geomagnetic storm potential, though whether the CME hits Earth head-on remains uncertain. For best viewing, find a dark, clear sky along the northern horizon after sunset.
The northern lights may be visible in several northern U.S. states on Wednesday due to geomagnetic storms caused by solar winds and a coronal mass ejection, with brighter and more widespread displays possible as a result.
Astronomers have detected a massive stellar eruption from a star 130 light-years away, providing the first strong evidence of coronal mass ejections beyond our solar system, which could impact the habitability of nearby planets and inform our understanding of space weather risks.