Auroras were observed as a result of a powerful eruption on the Sun

Washington, Nov. 12 - In many places on the planet, colorful auroras were visible tonight. In recent days, the Sun has erupted, sending waves of particles toward Earth, the AP reports. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned Tuesday that solar storms could also cause temporary disruptions to communications.

The brightness of the auroras and their visibility in more southern locations depends on when the particles reach Earth and how they interact with the Earth's atmosphere. The aurora will also be visible in various places on the planet tonight. The Sun is now at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making these light phenomena more frequent.

Possible strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio and GPS signals, but no problems have been reported so far. Many solar flares are mild and will not cause any damage to Earth. There are a few exceptions from the past, however. In 1989, for example, an electromagnetic storm caused a widespread power outage in Quebec, affecting six million people.

WT.24