The largest solar flare in two decades has erupted days after Australians witnessed a rare Aurora Australis across the country.
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The latest flare occurred at around 3am on Wednesday, May 15, but didn't cause the skies to light up again.
The recent spike in solar flares was typical for the solar cycle we were in and was not a cause for concern, astronomer Donna Burton said.
"Our sun pretends it's nice and quiet and middle aged and everything, but every so often likes to let us know it's there," Ms Burton said.
Those hoping to catch sight of another aurora are advised to keep their eyes on the skies on June 1 but are warned they will only get about 90 minutes' notice.
Are solar flares dangerous?
In 1859, a large solar flare disrupted telegraph services across the globe and reportedly caused a number of fires and injuries from electrical surges.
In 2003, a power grid in Quebec was impacted, causing a trillion dollars worth of damage, Ms Burton said.
But Ms Burton said Australians shouldn't worry about any physical harm when the next surge hits.
"Because of lightning strikes and power surges, we've got all the safety built into our houses - like the safety switches that stop us from getting electrocuted by outside power surges," she said.
The main concern in Australia is disruption to communications systems.
"The biggest risk is to our communications because we're so dependent on electronics and satellites," she said.
"Could you imagine if the GPS went out? If all the satellites, all the telecommunications went down?"
Georgina Sebar
Journalist at the Bendigo Advertiser. Email me at georgina.sebar@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Journalist at the Bendigo Advertiser. Email me at georgina.sebar@austcommunitymedia.com.au
