An erupting sunspot will provide some awe-inspiring treats for stargazers across the Northern Hemisphere, AccuWeather.com reports.
Astronomers at NASA's orbiting Solar Dynamics Observatory spotted sunspot 1402 explode last Thursday, sending out a long-lasting solar flare which is likely to deliver a "strong glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field" over the next couple of days.
Consequently, lucky holiday makers on Northern Lights trips can expect to see some amazing auroras, the like of which are seldom observed.
According to SpaceWeather.com, the eruption was caused by the sudden release of energy that is stored in twisted magnetic fields that swirl predominantly above sunspots. The energy - known as Coronal Mass Ejection - is expected to cause a geomagnetic storm on 24 and 25 January.
"Glancing blow" refers to the fact that the released energy will not directly hit the earth but will interfere with the atmosphere - creating the wonderful lights display and possibly causing brief radio blackouts.
Solar flares are measured in three categories, each of which contain subdivisions numbering one to nine, getting progressively stronger. This particular solar flare has been classified 'M-9', medium sized, but is just on the threshold of an X class, the very biggest, which could have caused planet-wide communications and electrical interruptions.
While people across Europe and in the Northern USA might be able to detect the aurora, those in the Arctic Circle will surely get the best view.