Huge solar storms on Friday: brilliant northern lights in sight!

Huge solar storms on Friday: brilliant northern lights in sight!

The anticipation of an extraordinary natural phenomenon is in the air! Experts predict that several solar storms that could already produce impressive northern lights are expected to hit Earth by Friday, November 7, 2025. Loud fr.de This will result in a coronal mass ejection (CME), which will probably hit Earth on Thursday evening (Eastern Standard Time).

With an increase in solar activity, the chance of observing the impressive northern lights in mid-latitudes also increases. While NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a warning for solar storms of levels G3 and G4, it's not just Northern Lights fans who can rejoice. These luminous celestial spectacles could be visible at up to 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude - this even corresponds to regions that are not common for northern lights. What is particularly exciting is the possibility that these lights could be seen as far away as Cologne!

What are northern lights and how are they created?

Auroras are the result of charged particles released from the sun hitting the Earth's magnetic field. This creates colorful light phenomena in the sky. The colors of the northern lights vary depending on the altitude and density of the atmosphere into which these particles penetrate. This explains Dr. Sami Solanki, director at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, impressively shows how the sun and the Earth's magnetic field interact with each other to create this visual spectacle. The MPG highlights that the likelihood of these celestial lights increases during active solar phases.

On the night of Thursday to Friday (November 6th to 7th), stargazers should position themselves looking up. However, the conditions for this are somewhat clouded because the almost full moon could affect the visibility of the northern lights. So it remains to be hoped that the bright colors of the aurora can still be clearly seen. Historical comparisons show that during a similar event in May 2024, the northern lights were already visible as far as southern Europe - a real feast for the eyes!

Dangers from geomagnetic storms

But it's not just the spectacle to consider - the geomagnetic storms can also have serious impacts on satellite systems, power grids and even navigation systems. A G3 warning will require voltage corrections on power grids and satellite systems could also be affected. In the event of a potential G4 storm, the impacts are even more serious and call into question the stability of the infrastructure. The experts warn that such storms can also lead to problems with radio communication. Mercury highlights that the exact strength of the solar storm can only be accurately estimated once the CME hits a special spacecraft near the ice.

So while a fascinating natural spectacle awaits people in Germany and beyond, it is important to have both eyes for the beauty and an ear for the warnings of scientists. The next few days could bring an unforgettable experience in the sky above our heads - a good hand at observing could well pay off!