Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
All
News
Sport
Culture
Lifestyle
‘Stunning’ Northern Lights spotted across UK
The Sun released a massive M5.8-class solar flare from sunspot region AR4436 on Sunday, triggering immediate space weather events. This powerful solar flare caused a moderate radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean and parts of eastern Africa, disrupting high-frequency communications for aviators and mariners.
The flare also resulted in a coronal mass ejection (CME), launching a cloud of magnetised solar plasma into space at approximately 650 kilometres per second.
The CME is expected to pass Earth on Wednesday, with a glancing blow anticipated to interact with the atmosphere, potentially creating aurora displays.
The Met Office said: "Auroral activity is expected to be mostly at background levels.…