Huge solar storm to shower Earth with radioactive particles

The largest solar storm for seven years is expected to send a shower of radioactive solar particles racing towards Earth at almost 1,400 miles a second this week, according to NASA.

The flare is expected to affect GPS systems and other communications when it reaches the Earth's magnetic field on January 24.

NASA says it may also spark an unusually large display of auroras, which may be visible at lower latitudes than normal.

The Northern Lights, which usually occur from September to October and from March to April, can frequently be seen in northen Canada, and the far north of Europe, from Greenland to Iceland and Norway.

But this week's unusually powerful solar storm has seen the lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, visible as far south as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire, in northern England.

In the southern hemisphere, the same colorful phenomena are known as the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights. Have you spotted any unusual light displays thanks to the solar flares? Submit your photos and video to iReport.

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Solar flares and Northern Lights

Solar flares and Northern Lights

Solar flares and Northern Lights

Solar flares and Northern Lights

Solar flares and Northern Lights

Solar flares and Northern Lights

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Have you spotted any unusual light displays thanks to the solar flares? Submit your photos and video to iReport.

(CNN) -- The largest solar storm for seven years is expected to send a shower of radioactive solar particles racing towards Earth at almost 1,400 miles a second this week, according to NASA.

The flare, caused by a huge eruption on the sun's surface on Sunday, is expected to affect GPS systems and other communications when it reaches the Earth's magnetic field on Tuesday..

Solar storm approaches Earth

Solar flares are our solar system's largest explosive events and can last from minutes to hours, according to NASA, releasing up to a billion tons of matter in the process.

NASA says the flare may also spark an unusually large display of auroras, which may be visible at lower latitudes than normal.

The dazzling array of brightly colored lights, known as the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights, can frequently be seen in northern Canada, and the far north of Europe, from Greenland to Iceland and Norway.

This week's powerful solar storm has already seen the lights visible as far south as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire, in northern England.

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