Solar storms

Patricia Campos Piñuela

Solar Storms Are Bombarding Earth Now, Amped-up Auroras Possible 

Two waves of solar material blown out by powerful sun eruptions on this week are hitting the Earth now, and could amplify the aurora displays for observers in northern regions.

Scientists with NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, expected the first wave of solar flare particles — unleashed by a so-called coronal mass ejection, or CME, on Monday (Sept. 8) — to reach Earth Thursday night (Sept. 11). A second wave, this one caused by a massive solar flare on wednesday, is due to arrive between Friday and early Saturday.