What Actually Happened on the Sun
At 10:39 a.m. on May 10, a group of sunspots known as AR4436 — positioned on the northeastern rim of the Sun — produced a significant eruption. The event was classified as M5.7, placing it in the moderate-to-strong category on the scale scientists use to measure solar flare intensity. Along with the electromagnetic burst, the Sun ejected a coronal mass ejection (CME): a massive cloud of magnetized plasma traveling through space at millions of kilometres per hour. Space weather agencies at
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center are tracking the CME’s trajectory, and models suggest a glancing blow to Earth’s magnetic field between May 13 and 14.
◆ Live Forecast Update
NOAA is forecasting a G1-class (Minor) geomagnetic storm for mid-week. Even a G1 event can produce visible aurora activity at latitudes above 60° North — and in rare cases, as far south as northern Scotland and Scandinavia.
Solar flares are ranked A through X, with each class representing a tenfold increase in energy. An M5.7 is roughly 50× more energetic than a C-class event — powerful enough to cause brief radio blackouts over the Atlantic, which NOAA confirmed within minutes of the eruption.
What a G1 Storm Means for Aurora Hunters
Geomagnetic storms are rated G1 (Minor) to G5 (Extreme). A G1 event may sound modest, but the aurora borealis is fundamentally an interaction between solar particles and Earth’s magnetic field — and even moderate activity can produce spectacular displays under the right conditions. The key variable is
where you are. At latitudes above 60° North — northern Norway, Iceland, Finnish Lapland, northern Canada — a G1 storm is frequently enough to paint the sky in green, violet and white curtains. What makes this week particularly interesting: the sunspot region AR4436 is still rotating toward the Earth-facing side of the Sun, meaning further eruptions remain possible. Region AR4432 is also active and under observation.
The Best Destinations to Position Yourself This Week
Prime latitude for G1 storms
🇳🇴 1. Tromsø, Norway
Positioned at 69°N and surrounded by fjords that block light pollution, Tromsø is one of the world’s most reliable aurora destinations. A full infrastructure of luxury lodges, private guides and expedition boats makes last-minute arrangements easier here than almost anywhere else in the Arctic.
Best foreground scenery
🇮🇸 2. Reykjavík & Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Iceland’s westernmost peninsula offers vast, unobstructed skies above black lava fields and glacier-fed lakes — an otherworldly foreground that transforms any aurora into an extraordinary photograph. The peninsula is consistently drier than Reykjavík, making it the preferred base for aurora photography.
Highest viewing comfort
🇫🇮 3. Finnish Lapland — Saariselkä
The Finnish aurora belt averages over 200 aurora nights per year. Saariselkä, above the Arctic Circle, combines stable continental weather (fewer clouds than coastal Norway) with glass-roofed suites where the aurora can be watched from bed.
Best option from the Americas
🇨🇦 4. Yukon — Whitehorse, Canada
For travellers from the Americas, Whitehorse sits directly under the auroral oval at 60°N. The dry sub-Arctic climate means reliably clear skies — a critical and often overlooked factor in aurora planning.
How to Photograph the Aurora — The Essentials
Most travellers return from their first aurora trip with blurry, dark photographs. That’s entirely avoidable with the right kit:
- Full-frame mirrorless camera — Sony A7 IV or Nikon Z6 III. Excellent high-ISO performance (3200–12800) is essential.
- Wide-angle lens, f/1.8 or faster — Sigma 14mm f/1.8 Art is a favourite. More light in = sharper aurora curtains.
- Robust carbon-fibre tripod — Arctic wind is constant. A lightweight tripod is a liability.
- Spare batteries (kept warm) — Cold destroys battery life. Keep two in an inside pocket. Sessions run 3–5 hours.
- Remote shutter release — Eliminates camera shake on long exposures.
- Red-light headlamp — Preserves night vision while you adjust settings. White light kills dark adaptation instantly.
Peak activity during a geomagnetic storm is typically 10 p.m.–2 a.m. local time, with a secondary peak around 4 a.m. Professional guides track the Kp index throughout the night to position you at maximum intensity.
What If You Miss This Window?
We are currently approaching the peak of Solar Cycle 25 — the most active aurora period in over a decade. The cycle already produced the historic G5 storm of May 2024, when auroras were seen as far south as Mexico. This week’s event is less intense, but it confirms the Sun is far from quiet. The sunspot groups AR4436 and AR4432 may produce additional eruptions before rotating away from the Earth-facing side. For dedicated aurora expeditions, the optimal season is late September through March, when Arctic nights are long enough for sustained viewing. Norwegian fjord voyages, Finnish glass-cabin stays and Canadian snowshoeing trips under the lights combine reliable aurora access with extraordinary landscapes.
The Sun will erupt again. The question is whether you’ll be in position when it does.
