Sun just fired a warning shot.
A massive solar flare the most powerful eruption of the year is now racing toward Earth, and scientists are sounding the alarm. This colossal burst of solar energy is expected to reach us within 24 to 48 hours, lighting up the skies with some of the most brilliant auroras in recent memory.
Known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), this flare carries highly charged particles that slam into Earth’s magnetic field, sparking breathtaking auroras and possibly disrupting technology here on the ground. Satellite systems, GPS navigation, and even power grids could experience brief interruptions, especially in higher-latitude regions.
But for skywatchers, it’s pure magic. Intense auroras are predicted to sweep across both hemispheres — greens, purples, and reds stretching farther south than usual. Even areas unaccustomed to seeing the northern lights may get a rare, colorful surprise.
