Solar storm strikes again, low latitudes may have the chance to see auroras

(Agence France-Presse Washington, December 12) Due to intense solar activity, unusually low latitude regions are expected to witness magnificent auroras again tonight and tomorrow, but this also poses risks to communication networks.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this rare event began earlier this week and may continue until tomorrow.

This phenomenon can be observed in the skies of New Zealand and Australia tonight, caused by a massive ejection of solar particles, also known as coronal mass ejection. When these particles reach Earth, they can trigger geomagnetic storms.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that a level 4 geomagnetic storm occurred yesterday as part of a level 5 storm, and the arrival of another wave of coronal mass ejection means similar events will happen again tomorrow.

Last night, the skies as far south as Mexico were illuminated by faint pink and green lights, delighting many observers. Normally, they would have to travel to areas closer to the poles to catch a glimpse of the auroras.

Last year, the Earth experienced its first level 5 geomagnetic storm in 20 years, when both the northern and southern lights provided spectacular displays.

However, intense solar storms bring not only stunning lights but also disrupt communication systems, leading to satellite failures and power grid overloads.

Due to the risks posed by this week's solar events, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's space company Blue Origin was forced to delay the launch of the New Glenn rocket again today.

To view the auroras, experts recommend enthusiasts seek out dark skies away from city lights and bring a camera or smartphone, so even if the auroras are not visible to the naked eye, they can be captured through long-exposure photographs