Canada experiencing heightened northern lights activity

Space and weather agencies are monitoring aurora activity across much of Canada after a rare solar flare.

A powerful explosion of solar plasma, also known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), was spotted by NASA on Sunday, and while the explosion occurred on the side of the Sun facing Earth, the speed at which it erupted was rare and extremely fast. speed: 2127 kilometers per second, according to NASA.

NASA and the European Space Agency’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory observed a halo CME when the explosion appeared as a ring extending around the sun.

It was big.

A huge coronal mass erupted from the Sun late Sunday evening. Although it was on the far side of the Sun, the explosion was powerful enough that spacecraft orbiting Earth felt its impact early Monday morning.

Learn more. https://t.co/1Vi1B4Kmlo pic.twitter.com/ANc3sgfJpv

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) March 14, 2023

As of Monday, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a G1 Minor Geomagnetic Storm Alert. This storm occurs when a burst of solar wind energy disrupts Earth’s magnetosphere, causing the bright flashes of the northern lights. The G1 storm is mostly affecting more northern regions, but it briefly reached G2 status early Wednesday morning, raising the possibility of the aurora moving further south.

In the next 24 hours, Space Weather Canada shows the geomagnetic storm active and hurricane ranges for the polar and auditory regions of Canada, which include the territories, most of northern Quebec, and parts of northern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland. The rest of southern Canada is also showing some erratic activity.

Canadians up north have been enjoying the view since yesterday as shades of green lit up the night sky.

Yesterday evening in Yellowknife Canada

Amazing Northern Lights!#AuroraBorealis #Yellow #Canada #Northwest Territories #Northern lights pic.twitter.com/YdBeL8NRJH

— Uhh-Merica (@uhh_merica) March 14, 2023

weather permitting Recommended for any interested sky watchers find a spot away from light pollution and check for storm updates when light activity is expected to peak.