Friday, November 4, 2011

Solar Activity Means More Northern Lights

The sun is displaying more sunspots and will be very active over the next few weeks. This is due to the CME (coronal mass ejection) that takes place along the surface of the sun.


(Photo courtesy of NASA from Sep. 2011)




Due to these solar flares, Northern Lights will be visible across the night sky over the next couple of weeks.


According to Space Weather, the sunspot, named AR1339, is not yet directly facing Earth but it will be turning toward our planet in the days ahead.


The sunspot group has already caused a large CME, but it was not directed at Earth. As the sunspots travel across the sun's face in the next few weeks, the coronal mass ejections could be directed at Earth causing aurora displays.


If your wandering eyes happen to catch these Northern Lights, feel free to snap a picture and submit it to sendit@ktre.com. That will upload the picture to our "See It, Snap It, Send It" photo gallery at ktre.com.

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