What was the 1859 Carrington Event? As a massive solar flare, this event disrupted global telegraph systems and caused visible auroras all over the world.

Scientists took the initiative to name Storm Gannon after a space weather scientist who died in 2024. This was the storm that sparked beautiful auroras across the globe that same year.

Solar storms can dazzle, bringing displays of the northern lights to large parts of the globe. But geomagnetic storms can also affect electronic systems.

NOAA has upgraded a geomagnetic solar storm watch from a level 3 ("moderate") to a level 4 ("severe") on Thursday as several solar flares hurtle toward Earth and are expected to combine.

A geomagnetic storm watch predicted northern lights visibility as far south as New York this week. Learn what caused this rare celestial event and its potential impacts.

A geomagnetic storm watch predicted northern lights visibility as far south as New York this week. Learn what caused this rare celestial event and its potential impacts.

A geomagnetic storm watch predicted northern lights visibility as far south as New York this week. Learn what caused this rare celestial event and its potential impacts.

During the largest geomagnetic storm ever recorded, the Carrington Event in 1859, these caused telegraph systems -- peak technology at that time -- to catch on fire," England said.

Geomagnetic storms The Carrington Event of 1859 is the largest recorded account of a geomagnetic storm, but it is not an isolated event.

What was the 1859 Carrington Event? As a massive solar flare, this event disrupted global telegraph systems and caused visible auroras all over the world.