Increased solar activity causes auroras that dance around Earth’s poles, known as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, and southern lights, or aurora australis. When the energized particles from coronal mass ejections reach Earth’s magnetic field, they interact with gases in the atmosphere to create different colored lights in the sky.

WARNINGS have been issued as a powerful “cannibal storm” hits Earth today capable of causing power problems and radio blackouts. A monster X5.1-class solar flare has already

As the event unfolds, scientists say this solar activity is part of a natural cycle that periodically sends charged particles sweeping across Earth’s atmosphere.

The skies lit up overnight with a spectacular light show by the aurora australis. But as the two-year solar peak period ends, tonight may be your last chance to see the southern lights for a while.

The UK is bracing itself for the largest solar storm in more than two decades, meaning power blackouts and communication outages.

The geomagnetic storm is set to reach Britain today and could be one of the largest in 20 years. NASA has postponed a space launch due to a "cannibal" solar storm that could also disrupt GPS, communication systems and power grids.

The recent solar storms are classified as G4 (severe) and G5 (extreme), causing widespread disruptions to satellite communications, GPS, and power grids.

The UK is said to be bracing itself for the largest solar storm in more than two decades, meaning a risk of power blackouts and communication outages