Sun fires powerful M6.9 solar flare and CME toward Earth — could it boost northern lights chances this week?
A restless Earth-facing sunspot has been firing off a barrage of powerful solar flares — and now a CME could be heading our way.
The sun unleashed a powerful M6.9 solar flare from an active sunspot region on August 25, sending a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. This M-class flare, ranking second in intensity below the most powerful X-class eruptions, triggered a moderate radio blackout affecting communications over parts of Africa, Europe, and the Arctic.
Early models suggest that Earth may receive a glancing blow from the CME on Friday, August 28, with the impact expected around 10-11 a.m. EDT (1000-1100 GMT). While the CME is anticipated to be slow-moving, aurora chaser Jure Atanackov believes the glancing encounter might still provide an interesting spectacle.
The Solar Influences Data Analysis Center predicts that a high-speed stream of solar wind from a positive-polarity coronal hole will begin influencing Earth from August 27. This combined effect with the glancing CME arrival could potentially boost geomagnetic activity and enhance aurora visibility.
The ultimate impact of the CME will depend on its arrival time and the orientation of its magnetic field upon reaching Earth. A strong southward magnetic field interacting more effectively with Earth's magnetic field could increase the chances of stronger geomagnetic activity. As more information becomes available, updates will be provided.
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