NYC, find those eclipse glasses: How to watch solar storm flares

Alex Meier
·3 min read

NEW YORK - NYC may miss out on the chance to see the northern lights – no thanks to a cloudy forecast – but the unusually large solar storm hitting Earth may produce another visual spectacle for New Yorkers.

It's time to dust off those eclipse! As the sun shines on this fairly cloudless spring day, sunspot flares may be visible as the sun hurls plasma our way.

<div>NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured these images of the solar flares — as seen in the bright flashes in the left image (May 8 flare) and the right image (May 7 flare). The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in orange. (NASA/SDO / NOAA)</div>
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured these images of the solar flares — as seen in the bright flashes in the left image (May 8 flare) and the right image (May 7 flare). The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in orange. (NASA/SDO / NOAA)

"Some solar phenomenon manifest themselves with spectacular light shows while others are less conspicuous, rewarding careful observers who find themselves in the right place at the right time," according to NASA.

In fact, the sunspots, or "freckles," can be visible on any given clear day. If they're large enough, they look like small dots on the face of the sun.

<div>A view of an unusual Sun activity created a sunspot, that is responsible for a G4 Geostorm on Earth, the last time this magnitude happened was 20 years ago in Jerusalem on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)</div>
A view of an unusual Sun activity created a sunspot, that is responsible for a G4 Geostorm on Earth, the last time this magnitude happened was 20 years ago in Jerusalem on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Remember: Never look directly at the sun without protection!

<div>A woman observes the total solar eclipse with solar eclipse glasses at the Times Square in New York City, United States on August 21, 2017. (Photo by Volkan Furuncu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)</div>
A woman observes the total solar eclipse with solar eclipse glasses at the Times Square in New York City, United States on August 21, 2017. (Photo by Volkan Furuncu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

What is a solar storm? Why is this one considered ‘extreme’?

<div>The Northern Lights seen over Frederick Sound in Alaska.</div> <strong>(Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)</strong>
The Northern Lights seen over Frederick Sound in Alaska.
(Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth produced stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early Saturday, with no immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects of the Northern Lights, which were prominently on display in Britain, were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.

<div>Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) illuminate the sky of San Francisco North Bay as seen from China Camp Beach in San Rafael, California, United States on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)</div>
Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) illuminate the sky of San Francisco North Bay as seen from China Camp Beach in San Rafael, California, United States on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

There were sightings "from top to tail across the country," said Chris Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, Britain’s weather agency. He added that the office received photos and information from other European locations including Prague and Barcelona.

NOAA alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to take precautions.

<div>An illustration of Earth's magnetic field shielding our planet from solar particles (NASA/GSFC/SVS / NASA)</div>
An illustration of Earth's magnetic field shielding our planet from solar particles (NASA/GSFC/SVS / NASA)

The flares seem to be associated with a sunspot that’s 16 times the diameter of Earth, NOAA said. It is all part of the solar activity ramping up as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle.

- Associated Press Aerospace Writer Marcia Dunn