Solar activity: Auroras, usually visible at high latitudes, are associated with geomagnetic activity brought about by solar wind.

What is "space weather"? At the Hong Kong Observatory's newly launched webpage, you can find out more details about all solar activities in simple terms and their possible effects on the earth.

Space weather originates from the Sun. It generally refers to all solar activities including sunspots and solar flares, and the effects they may have on the Earth. It has been known to disrupt telecommunications on the Earth and affect space-borne facilities such as satellites and spacecrafts.

Observatory Director Lam Chiu-ying said the new webpage is one of the latest initiatives to promote science among the public. The observatory's online "Educational Resources" has also been enhanced to offer more information, such as the movement of planets and details on thunderstorms.

University of Science & Technology Department of Mathematics Professor Chan Kwing-lam, who is also an expert in solar physics, said the webpage will enable the public to have a better understanding of space weather as the information is in layman terms and easy to read.