A powerful solar storm is expected to reach Earth tonight, creating a rare opportunity for skywatchers in parts of northern India to witness auroral activity - a phenomenon more commonly associated with the Arctic Circle.

The US-based Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a geomagnetic storm watch for June 8 and June 9 after a massive cloud of charged solar particles erupted from the Sun and began moving toward Earth.

The storm was triggered by a coronal mass ejection (CME) originating from Active Region 4461, a highly active zone on the Sun that recently produced an M1.8-class solar flare and a fast-moving filament eruption.

Scientists estimate the solar material is travelling at nearly 1,400 kilometres per second and is expected to collide with Earth's magnetic field, potentially triggering a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm.

The latest forecast predicts geomagnetic conditions could peak at G3 (Strong) on June 8 before easing to G2 (Moderate) levels on June 9.Because of the intensity of the incoming solar storm, experts say some high-altitude areas of northern India may have a chance of witnessing faint auroral activity.

Visibility, however, will depend on several factors including cloud cover, local light pollution, atmospheric conditions and the eventual strength of the storm.

Unlike the dramatic green curtains often seen in polar countries, any aurora visible from India would likely appear as a faint red or crimson glow low on the northern horizon. These colours are produced when high-altitude oxygen atoms in Earth's upper atmosphere interact with charged particles from the Sun.

Astronomers caution that the display may be difficult to see with the naked eye. Cameras and smartphones equipped with night mode or long-exposure settings may offer a better chance of capturing the phenomenon.

Source:Ndtv