BEIJING, Sept. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- A geomagnetic storm is expected to prompt brilliant northern lights on Friday after the sun has been active this week, according to media reports Thursday.
The magnetic canopy of sunspot AR2158 erupted Tuesday, producing an explosion that lasted more than six hours. Another flare on Wednesday afternoon was noted by scientists from the same active region.
Tom Berger, director of Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado, said it's been several years since the Earth has had a solar storm of this size coming from sunspots smack in the middle of the sun.
Scientists of the SWPC said the solar flare could mess up some power grids, satellites and radio transmissions as it blasted its way to the Earth.
But the relatively high predicted intensity of the storm also means it could be possible to see the aurora as far south as the northern U.S. states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York.
(Agencies)
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