Mobile phones and satellites could be knocked by a huge magnetic space storm.
A massive ejection of magnetic material from the sun was due to race towards the Earth.
The storm could also knock out electricity grids, with power companies around the world put on alert to be prepared for the worst.
Material is being spewed out by a giant sunspot 11 times bigger than Earth and the same size as Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system.
American space agency NASA, tracking the storm, has also warned airlines over fears the magnetic burst could affect navigational systems.
A spokesman said: "The sunspot is hurling clouds of electrified gas towards Earth, producing explosions, or flares, and spawning storms of high-speed particles in space."
The storm - rated three on scale of one to five - has forced many satellite operators to put them into "hibernate" mode during the peak of its ferocity.
Astronauts, including Briton Michael Foale on board the International Space Station Mir, have been banned from performing any space walks during the storm.
A massive ejection of magnetic material from the sun was due to race towards the Earth.
The storm could also knock out electricity grids, with power companies around the world put on alert to be prepared for the worst.
Material is being spewed out by a giant sunspot 11 times bigger than Earth and the same size as Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system.
American space agency NASA, tracking the storm, has also warned airlines over fears the magnetic burst could affect navigational systems.
A spokesman said: "The sunspot is hurling clouds of electrified gas towards Earth, producing explosions, or flares, and spawning storms of high-speed particles in space."
The storm - rated three on scale of one to five - has forced many satellite operators to put them into "hibernate" mode during the peak of its ferocity.
Astronauts, including Briton Michael Foale on board the International Space Station Mir, have been banned from performing any space walks during the storm.
