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THE Sun may surprise us with a solar storm this Friday the 13th.
After a week of multiple eruptions on the Sun, space weather experts think we could expect a “glancing blow” from another CME today.
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A CME is a type of solar flare called a coronal mass ejection.
It’s a huge expulsion of plasma from the Sun’s outer layer, called the corona.
When solar flares hit Earth’s magnetic field, they can cause geomagnetic storms that affect our satellites and the power grid.
Scientists aren’t 100% sure whether a recent solar flare will hit our planet today but they haven’t ruled it out.
The experts at SpaceWeather.com explained: “One of the many CMEs that appeared to miss Earth this week might hit after all.
“NOAA analysts say that a glancing blow is possible today, potentially turning Friday the 13th into a lucky day for high-latitude aurora watchers.
“This is a low confidence forecast. Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible if the CME grazes Earth’s magnetic field.”
A recent solar storm caused radio blackouts around the Atlantic Ocean that lasted for over an hour.
Each solar storm that hits Earth is graded by severity.
Intense flares pose can pose a threat to humans on the International Space Station.
They can be deadly for an astronaut if they result in injury or interfere with mission control communications.
A minor storm can confuse migrating animals that rely on the Earth’s magnetic field for a sense of direction.
Fortunately, the Earth’s magnetic field helps to protect us from the more extreme consequences of solar flares.
Each solar flare is made up of intense electromagnetic radiation that bursts from the Sun every so often and can send a stream of highly charged particles in our direction.
This radiation could be harmful to us if we didn’t have the protection of our magnetic field.
Flares hitting the magnetic field also aid in the creation of pretty auroras like the Northern Lights.
The Sun is currently at the start of a new 11-year solar cycle, which usually sees eruptions and flares grow more intense and extreme.
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