Post by Frank on Mar 18, 2015 10:39:47 GMT 10
Any one see the light show or notice anything odd in the sky?
www.news.com.au/technology/environment/two-solar-storms-hit-earth-skies-light-up/story-e6frflp0-1227267573081
EARTH has been smashed by a double whammy of solar storms, creating blasts of magnetic plasma with fears it would hit satellite systems and wipe out power.
The storm is classified as severe according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 1-to-5 scale for geomagnetic effects.
It is the strongest solar storm to smash Earth since 2013 and it has been almost 10 years since a level 5 storm, termed extreme, has hit Earth.
While the storms are strong enough to affect satellite operations, there was no reported damage so far.
The storm pushed the Northern Lights further south, making them visible from the United States. And the skies above the southern hemisphere were spectacular as the night sky above Australia and New Zealand lit up with vibrant purple, pink and green colours.
The phenomena is called Aurora Australis and occurs when electrically charged electrons and protons accelerate down the Earth’s magnetic field lines, and collide with neutral atoms in the upper atmosphere. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the spectacular light show usually takes place 100 kms above the earth.
If you want to make sure you don’t miss the next time this truly amazing light show occurs, you can keep up to date with the Aurora Australis service — a team of volunteers who are dedicated to predicting aurora activity.
In the meantime, enjoy these photos captured by people across Australia and New Zealand.
