When is the next solar storm expected? What effects could you expect? On that note, how far away from the Sun does a solar flare shoot?

The next solar storm is predicted to happen in the years 2000 or 2001. (How old will you be then?)

Solar storms can create big eruptions on the Sun. These eruptions are called solar flares. Solar flares shoot out about 400,000 kilometers above the S un. That would be about the same distance as driving from New York to California and back 50 times! The picture to the left shows how big a solar flare is even compared to the size of the Earth!

Solar flares affect the Earth. They can disrupt radio communications here on Earth. They also make the Northern and Southern lights brighter. So in the next few years, if you see these lights where you've never see n them before, they might just be caused by a solar storm!

Submitted by Johan (South Africa)
Submitted by Elliot (England)
(September 17, 1997)



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