Sky watchers among you will be interested to hear about a huge solar flare and its impact heading our way. It’s anticipated that the effects will hit in the late hours of today (Saturday January 21) and it could mean a spectacular northern lights show. As well as this though there could be power grid and satellite disruption, which will be being closely monitored.

Near the end of December we told about possible unusual solar activity caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) and this latest solar flare was unleashed on Thursday at around 11:30am EST, again caused by a CME. By tonight the charged particles from the vast explosion should reach Earth and northern lights displays are highly likely to be intensified.

An alert has been issued by SpaceWeather.com saying, “Forecasters say strong geomagnetic storms are possible when the cloud arrives during the late hours of Jan. 21st. High-latitude (and possibly middle-latitude) sky watchers should be alert for auroras this weekend,” as reported by Fox News. Photos and video of the solar flare are available to view here, taken by several space telescopes. This latest flare originated from Region 1401, an active sunspot group and another flare also erupted form Region 1402.

A scale used by astronomers to measure solar flare strength registered Thursday’s flare as a strong M2-class sun storm. We are currently experience an 11-year cyclical system of solar activity that is due to peak in 2013. If you want to keep informed on this new solar flare activity head to the SpaceWeather.com link above. Also, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute aurora forecast page here tells more about what to expect tonight and forecasts “auroral activity will be high.”

Are you hoping to see increased auroral activity tonight? Let us know what you think of the solar flare impact by sending us your comments.

Leave a comment below or follow us on Twitter.