Solar Storm This Week

News of a solar storm this week sent people to the Search box.
Early reports warned of potential damage to power grids and communications satellites. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station and shuttle Discovery slept in protective areas of their spacecraft to avoid affects of the solar flare's radiation storm.

But it was another feature of the solar event that sparked the interest of searchers. The flares also cause the northern lights, or aurora borealis. Earth-bound enthusiasts looked up "aurora borealis" (+334%), "northern lights" (+364%), "solar flares," and even "viewing the northern lights."

In other news for sky watchers, the Geminid meteor shower peaked this week. The annual event, often called "the year's best," is known for its slow, bright meteors that can afford viewers a better show than the summer's Perseid shower. Excited searchers dialed up "meteor shower" (+3,274%), "geminid meteor shower," "geminid meteor shower 2006," and "meteor shower tonight." Don't dismay if you missed it. Straggling meteors are expected to last into the weekend, and there's always next year.