Northern Lights: Why do we get auroras on Earth after eruptions occur on Sun? NASA says THIS

livemint.com:

auroras illuminated the skies over various regions for the second consecutive night on Saturday, following an awe-inspiring showcase. This captivating celestial phenomenon results from a potent solar storm, which may persist into Sunday, offering breathtaking views of the “northern lights" that typically grace the far northern latitudes of the planet. This celestial phenomenon raises the question of why we get auroras on Earth after eruptions occur on the Sun.

Also Read: Earth bracing for powerful solar storm after 20 years. Here's how it may impact you In a post on X, NASA Sun & Space explained this and noted that there are two things we call solar eruptions: solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). They often occur together, but not always.

“Solar flares are intense flashes of light — a result of the Sun’s complex magnetic fields abruptly rearranging themselves," it said. It further explained that the Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are giant clouds of solar particles laced with magnetic fields that escape from the Sun. “These giant clouds can travel anywhere in the solar system, including to us here on Earth," it added.

It further explained that solar flares reach us quickly as “light only takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth." "Because CMEs are made up of particles, they may take days to reach us. But when they do, they can set the aurora alight," it added. Also Read: Northern Lights visible in India? Aurora borealis may glitter tonight in this state Thus, when a CME collides with Earth’s magnetic field, it can dump solar particles into near-Earth space.