See The Northern Lights This Week

The Northern Lights are a treat to see, if you can catch them. This week we've got a pretty good chance because the Sun got rowdy on Monday afternoon. -Michelle

The biggest solar blast in four years erupted late Monday, and it’s sending jets of charged particles right at Earth. The flare will spark bright auroras when it hits the magnetosphere in the next 24 to 48 hours.

A cluster of sunspots called Active Region 1158 unleashed the flare at 8:50 pm Eastern time on Feb. 14. The flare was classified as a class X2.2, meaning it is the most powerful flare since December 2006. The sunspots have continued to let loose smaller flares and may still be active now.

NOAA forecasters estimate a 45 percent chance of geomagnetic activity on Feb. 17th, when the bulk of the radiation hits Earth’s magnetic field. It may create a stunning display of aurora borealis, better known as northern lights. So look up!

via Giant Solar Blast Headed for Earth | Wired Science | Wired.com.