Material from a second, more powerful ejection is expected on Friday. The aurora, or northern and southern lights, are a shimmering glow in the sky caused when energetic particles from the sun strike atoms of gas in the upper atmosphere of the earth. The earth's magnetic field protects the planet from these solar particles, but the field dips low over the poles. For this reason, the aurora is most commonly seen at high northern and southern latitudes. Unusually powerful solar bursts can produce the blue and green lights in the night sky closer to the equator.
Experts say that the aurora is best viewed around midnight, local time.
The corona mass ejection poses no health risk to people on the ground, but such solar bursts have been known to damage spacecraft and to disrupt electrical power grids. All rights reserved. Simply insert your own values between the double-quotes.