The sun is at its 11-year maximum. That means another year of eruptions that can endanger satellites, ground flights, and spark stunning auroras.

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purple sun sphere with bumpy bright spots including a giant bright flare in the middle
The sun emits the largest solar flare of this 11-year cycle, as imaged by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on October 3.

NASA/SDO

I saw the northern lights during the historic solar storm. I was surprised by how misleading the photos are.

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purple starry sky above treetops
Some of my pictures turned out purple for some reason.

Morgan McFall-Johnsen

10 photos of the Northern Lights dazzling in the night sky across the US and Europe caused by massive geomagnetic storm

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You can see the Northern Lights in Alaska.
You can see the Northern Lights in Alaska.

CNaene/Getty Images

Earth is bracing for a 'severe' geomagnetic storm and it probably won't be the last for this year

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solar ejections
We're entering solar maximum, a period of heightened solar activity that could cause more auroras, power outages, and communication blackouts.

All About Space Magazine/Getty Images

NASA video shows the sun just blasted out 4 eruptions at the same time. The rare event may have sent plasma hurtling toward Earth.

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blue telescope view of the sun in space with pink arrows pointing to three bright spots and one darker spot with wavy lines
Eruptions appeared in four spots on the sun at the same time.

NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory

The equinox might fuel powerful Northern Lights by creating 'holes' in Earth's magnetic field

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Auroras seen above a lighthouse.
The northern lights in Whitley Bay, England April 24, 2023.

Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images

A powerful solar eruption headed for Earth could trigger a strong geomagnetic storm by Friday and stunning aurora across Canada

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Solar flare seen on sun taken by NOAA satellites.
A large solar flare erupted from the sun earlier this week generating a powerful explosion directed toward Earth.

NOAA Satellites

Photos show the Northern Lights appeared as far south as Texas on Sunday from a double eruption on the sun. Auroras could become more common as solar activity nears its peak.

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A picture from Riverton's national weather service in Wyoming shows purple and green northern lights shining behind a spherical structure in the foreground.
A picture of the northern lights spotted in Riverton, Wyoming.

NWS Riverton

A giant eruption covered 'over half the sun,' then crashed into Earth nearly 12 hours earlier than forecast

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sun solar surface side by side images left shows the full orange disk with a giant loop of plasma circled and a green arrow pointing to that loop on the right in a purple close-up
This filament formed on the sun, then erupted to send solar material speeding toward Earth.

NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory

A giant eruption from the sun could bring the Northern Lights as far south as New York, Chicago, and Portland overnight Monday and early Tuesday

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ribbons of green pink purple northern lights stretch across the night sky above homes and lights of a sprawling town
Northern Lights, also called aurora borealis, dance in the sky over Tromso, Norway.

NTB/Rune Stoltz Bertinussen/Reuters

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