Solar storm: Earth in path for 'direct hit' this week

Experts predict it could also result in minor geomagnetic storms, and it comes following a "sun burp" that occurred on Friday.

"The long snake-like filament cartwheeled its way off the sun in a stunning ballet," US based space weather physicist Dr Tamitha Skov said.

Dr Skov said the solar storm will be a "direct hit" with Earth.

While initial predictions were for impact on Tuesday, Australian astrophysicist Dr Brad Tucker said the storm is slow moving and impact is now expected on Thursday or Friday.

"A solar storm is essentially a sun burp. The sun goes through little eruptions all the time and when it does it releases plasma," he said.

"It's a stream of particles from the sun, it's essentially energy."

Dr Tucker, who is based at the Australian National University's Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, said solar storms are closely monitored as they have the potential to cause significant disruption.

"The sun goes through an 11-year cycle and we're now getting into the area of more activity," he said.

"It's due to peak in mid-2025 ish."

Large solar storms can cause widespread blackouts and significant disruptions to satellites.

"There's a lot more satellites and activity in space since the sun was last active seven years ago," he said.

"Generally on Earth we're pretty safe, other than the auroras, but interference with satellites is our biggest concern."

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A report from the Australian Academy of Science released in January, said solar storms could impact a number of areas.

"Solar eruptions trigger magnetic storms and space weather events which can damage satellites and affect their orbits; degrade radio communications links, over-the-horizon radar operations and GNSS services; impact aviation; and damage long pipelines and electricity distribution grids," the report stated.

"Space weather monitoring and forecasting is therefore critical to maintaining the integrity of space-related services in Australia," it said.