Geomagnetic Storm and Aurora

SOURCE www.npr.org
A geomagnetic storm caused an aurora visible as far south as Florida and disrupted satellites, including Elon Musk's Starlink service. The solar storm stems from sunspot region 3664 and has caused power grid irregularities and GPS disruptions.

Key Points

  • Sunspot region 3664 on the sun is the source of the solar storm
  • Charged particles from the sun causing disruptions on Earth
  • X-class solar flares causing trouble for satellites and communication equipment

Pros

  • Spectacular auroras visible as far south as Florida
  • Opportunity to witness a rare celestial event

Cons

  • Disruption to satellites and communication systems
  • Potential damage to satellites from radiation and drag in the atmosphere