The solar eclipse will occur this weekend, where the northern lights will be visible

A powerful solar eruption is expected to approach Earth this weekend, potentially disrupting the electrical grid and making the colorful auroras visible across much of the northern United States.

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the impact could trigger a small geomagnetic storm (G1) — a temporary disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field that could lead to radio signal disruptions, fluctuations in the power grid, satellite malfunctions, and other negative effects.

G1 events are the weakest category of geomagnetic storms and typically pass unnoticed by the vast majority of people.

However, any geomagnetic storm has the potential to push the Northern Lights to much lower latitudes than usual, potentially making the spectacle visible to millions of people across North America.

Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with Earth’s magnetic field. These particles travel along the planet’s magnetic field lines toward the north and south poles, colliding with atmospheric molecules along the way. These molecules become excited, releasing energy in the form of colorful light. The color of the aurora light depends on the type of molecules that are excited, which is also linked to their altitude in the atmosphere.

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