Northern Lights in June? Sunspots responsible for aurora return

The large cluster of sunspots responsible for widespread auroras this month is now facing Earth again.

The cluster, known as region AR3697, completed its revolution around the Sun on Thursday, the day before coming into view it unleashed a strong X2.9 solar flare.

As the sunspots, areas of reduced surface temperatures due to magnetic flux, did reappear, a second X-class flare emerged.

This means that there is a strong possibility that we will see higher aurora activity again soon. NASA predict that June 6 will be the most likely time for this.

The original cluster was a merger of two separate sunspot clusters, creating an extra-large and very active area.

On May 10, the most intense barrage of solar particles reached Earth, resulting in the Northern Lights descending over the UK, Ireland, and much of Europe.