New Northern Lights expected until Sunday in France and around the world

The solar storm that began Friday, the most intense in 20 years, is expected to continue until the end of the weekend, according to the American Oceanic and Atmospheric Observation Agency.

If you missed the first act, rest assured, the show should continue. Northern lights should once again set the French sky ablaze on Saturday May 11 and Sunday May 12, consequences of a solar storm “extreme” which began hitting Earth on Friday, according to international space agencies.

“We are currently experiencing the most significant solar storm in the last 20 years”, details the European Space Agency in a message to the media. The phenomenon is linked to a series of mass ejections from the solar corona. The impact of these coronal masses on Earth is expected to persist until Sunday, explains the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in a press release.

How can you put all the chances on your side to be able to contemplate the Northern Lights in the night sky? “Find good spots, far from the lights, with a clear view to the north” and rather to “beginning” of the night, advises astrophysicist Eric Lagadec on the X platform. Even though the Aurora Borealis is not visible to the naked eye, taking a photo with a long exposure can reveal unusual colors.

Possible consequences on electrical and communications networks

The rare spectacle could also be accompanied by concrete consequences. NOAA has reported that “irregularities on the electricity network and a degradation of high frequency communications and GPS” had already been reported during the night from Friday to Saturday. China’s National Space Weather Center also issued a red alert on Saturday, warning that the solar storm was expected to impact communications and navigation systems, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Geomagnetic storms can disrupt navigation tools and high-frequency radio transmissions, the US Civil Aviation Administration said, but said “do not expect significant consequences”. Billionaire Elon Musk, whose Starlink internet network has some 5,000 satellites in low orbit, assured on that these “are under a lot of pressure, but so far they are holding on”.

“This situation demonstrates the importance for Europe of setting up operational space weather services” And “to develop our capabilities for observing the Sun”insists the European Space Agency all the same. “The Vigile space mission, being prepared by the European Space Agency for launch around 2030, will revolutionize our capabilities for predicting solar storms and thus allow us to protect ourselves from future dangers linked to the activity of our star”recalls the agency.