Over the weekend, bright and colourful auroras lit up skies throughout the northern and southern hemispheres, including many parts of Australia.

These auroras are caused by geomagnetic storms, varying in frequency and intensity. So exactly what’s the nature of geomagnetic storms and are they a cause for concern?

Does the most powerful geomagnetic storm of the past 500 years known as the Carrington Event provide answers?

Story published by 4ZZZ

Image: Image Credit: stein egil liland / Pexels

Produced By: Toni Pankaluic

Featured In Story: Professor Jonti Horner – Astronomer from the University of Southern Queensland

First aired on The Wire, Monday 13 May 2024