Solar storm calming after hammering Earth's magnetic field overnight

The mega solar storm that struck Earth is subsiding and the radiation is calming down after battering the planet's magnetic field overnight.The halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) struck Earth on the intervening nights of June 1 and June 2, 2025 sparking a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm.A halo CME is an eruption of solar plasma and magnetic field that appears to form a halo around the Sun when it is moving directly along the line of sight—either toward or away from Earth. If it's Earth-directed, it can have serious effects on technology and infrastructure.advertisement
Experts have already dubbed it one of the biggest space weather events of Solar Cycle 25."There are indications that the coronal mass ejection (CME) passage is weakening, but the solar wind conditions remain elevated, therefore additional periods of G3-G4 (Strong-Severe) levels remain possible. However, we now anticipate that conditions should weaken enough by tomorrow evening, June 2nd (EDT), that G1 (Minor) storm levels are the most likely peak response," the Space Weather Prediction Center under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said.The source of this solar eruption is Sunspot 4100, which erupted in dramatic fashion on May 31.Earth-orbiting satellites detected an M8.2-class solar flare that lasted more than three hours, an unusually long and powerful event. While technically just shy of the X-class threshold, the flare's slow, sustained energy release provided ample force to launch a massive CME from the Sun's atmosphere.advertisementThe geomagnetic storm has triggered auroras in several parts of the world."Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with Earth's magnetic field. These particles are usually directed toward the north and south poles, but during more intense solar events—like the one expected soon—the auroras can extend much farther from the poles, becoming visible in regions closer to the equator."Experts are also hopeful that the auroras could be visible in parts of Ladakh, India.Must Watch

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