Some changes in space weather around Earth can already be observed today. More charged particles will lead to more auroral activity.
Last Sunday (1/15), NASA confirmed that a solar storm would hit Earth on January 19. According to the agency, the effects of this phenomenon will begin to be felt from Wednesday (18), and possible auroras are expected in certain places in mid-latitudes.
On January 14, magnetic field lines around a new sunspot, identified as AR3182, detected by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, have already erupted, causing a coronal mass ejection (CME). High-speed plasma from the sun flows through the inner solar system toward Earth.
Most of the CME will not reach our planet, but the wave of particles will pass through the Earth in the next few days and its effects will be felt mainly on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 January.
Also Read: SpaceX Publishes Images of the SpacecraftSome changes in space weather around Earth can already be observed today. The increase in charged particles will lead to increased aurora activity over the three days.
In Brazil, specifically, the phenomena cannot be felt. Seeing the Australian aurora will be possible in the north of Tasmania and the South Island of New Zealand. The part of Antarctica that has nights at this time of year will have the best view.
In the United States, the Northern Lights can be seen on the horizon south of Seattle, Des Moines, Chicago, Cleveland, and Boston. In Europe, it can be seen on the horizon in northern England and Denmark. Everywhere north of these places there should be some sort of light show.