Sun erupts with 3 solar flares, raising chances of northern lights for U.S.

Article excerpt

The sun unleashed three powerful solar flares this week, sending a surge of charged particles toward Earth that could paint the night sky green and red across much of the United States. The flares, part of the sun's 11-year activity cycle, are ramping up as solar maximum approaches, the peak period when such eruptions become more frequent and intense. Skywatchers from the upper Midwest to the Northeast, and potentially even further south, could catch glimpses of the aurora borealis over the coming nights if conditions align. The phenomenon occurs when solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field, energizing oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere.