The spectacular aurora borealis - AKA the Northern Lights - is expected to be visible across large parts of the United States and Europe tonight.
As reported by CNN, the natural display could be visible to millions of people thanks to a large social flare that erupted on Thursday. The flare is due to hit Earth today (Saturday, October 30), and could result in a strong geomagnetic storm and the aurora borealis phenomenon.
The information was shared by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which issued a G3/"strong" geomagnetic storm watch.
According to the NOAA weather scale, geomagnetic storms can range from a G1 - or "minor" storm - to a G5 - an "extreme" storm. The storm is currently "forecast to arrive at Earth on 30 October, with effects likely continuing into 31 October."
Per the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Aurora Forecast, if the weather conditions allow for it, the Northern Lights could be visible from Portland, Oregon, to New York City - and may even be visible in Carson City, Nevada, Oklahoma City, and Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Met Office has also reported that "sightings of aurora seem likely along the northern horizon (cloud permitting) across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Northern England."
A statement from the Met Office adds: "There is a slight chance of aurora visible as far south as North Wales, Midlands, and Norfolk if looking at the extreme northern horizon low down."
According to NASA, the Northern Lights - and other auroras - are the result of the Sun's solar energy. "During one kind of solar storm called a coronal mass ejection, the Sun burps out a huge bubble of electrified gas that can travel through space at high speeds," the official NASA website explains.
"When a solar storm comes toward us, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earth's atmosphere.
"There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light. Nitrogen glows blue and purple."
And as many of us can appreciate, the display is simply breathtaking - making the aurora borealis a frequent bucket list entry for many people.
As well as the stunning light display, the geomagnetic storm could also result in households being hit by voltage irregularities and false alarms on some protection devices, the NOAA states. The sunny-side of our planet can also expect to be hit by loss of radio contact and radio blackouts.
