Solar flare brings Northern Lights for the next few nights

The strongest solar flare in four years is disrupting communications in China but brings spectacular views of the Northern Lights for the next few nights.

“X-class flares are the most powerful of all solar events that can trigger radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms,” disturbing telecommunications, GPS systems and electric grids, NASA said Wednesday.

Called “Sunspot 1158” it is the strongest solar flare of the year so far.

Solar flares cause electrically charged particles to travel at extremely high speeds. Northern Lights are caused by collisions between those electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere.

The Northern Lights, to be visible for the next few nights, are otherwise known as Aurora Borealis and are most likely to be visible in the far north.

NASA photo