A series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun are creating dazzling auroras across the globe.

The rare solar storm may also disrupt communications. The last time a solar storm of this magnitude reached Earth was in October 2003, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

Increased solar activity causes auroras that dance around Earth's poles, known as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, and southern lights, or aurora australis. When the energized particles from coronal mass ejections reach Earth's magnetic field, they interact with gases in the atmosphere to create different colored light in the sky.

Even if auroras don't appear visible, photos of the night sky may capture colors you can't see with the naked eye.

Aurora borealis shines above the Chicago skyline on Saturday, May 11.
Aurora borealis shines above the Chicago skyline on Saturday, May 11.
Joshua Mellin
A person watches the northern lights from atop a rock formation near Sheffield, England, on May 11.
A person watches the northern lights from atop a rock formation near Sheffield, England, on May 11.
Alastair Johnstone/Story Picture/Shutterstock
Aurora borealis is reflected in water at Manning Park in British Columbia, on May 11.
Aurora borealis is reflected in water at Manning Park in British Columbia, on May 11.
Andrew Chin/Getty Images
People look at the aurora australis on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, on May 11.
People look at the aurora australis on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, on May 11.
Sanka Vidanagama/AFP/Getty Images
In this long exposure photo, the blinking lights of a plane streak through the aurora borealis over Lake Berryessa, California, on May 11.
In this long exposure photo, the blinking lights of a plane streak through the aurora borealis over Lake Berryessa, California, on May 11.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images
The northern lights shine in the night sky above the Molenviergang in Aarlanderveen, the Netherlands, early May 11.
The northern lights shine in the night sky above the Molenviergang in Aarlanderveen, the Netherlands, early May 11.
Josh Walet/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The northern lights illuminate the sky in Debrad, Slovakia, on May 11.
The northern lights illuminate the sky in Debrad, Slovakia, on May 11.
Robert Nemeti/Anadolu/Getty Images
The aurora borealis glows in the night sky over the mountains in Le Col des Mosses pass, Ormont-Dessous, Switzerland, during the early hours of May 11.
The aurora borealis glows in the night sky over the mountains in Le Col des Mosses pass, Ormont-Dessous, Switzerland, during the early hours of May 11.
Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone/AP
The aurora borealis illuminates the skies over the southwestern Siberian town of Tara, in Russia's Omsk region, on May 11.
The aurora borealis illuminates the skies over the southwestern Siberian town of Tara, in Russia's Omsk region, on May 11.
Alexey Malgavko/Reuters
The aurora borealis glows over Vienna on May 11.
The aurora borealis glows over Vienna on May 11.
Max Slovencik/APA/AFP/Getty Images
The northern lights are seen in a rural area west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday, May 10.
The northern lights are seen in a rural area west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday, May 10.
Courtesy Luke Culver
People photograph the northern lights from Whitley Bay, England, on May 10.
People photograph the northern lights from Whitley Bay, England, on May 10.
Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
The northern lights flare in the sky over a farmhouse in Brunswick, Maine, on May 10.
The northern lights flare in the sky over a farmhouse in Brunswick, Maine, on May 10.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Aurora australis, or the southern lights, glow over Villarrica volcano in Pucón, Chile, on May 10.
Aurora australis, or the southern lights, glow over Villarrica volcano in Pucón, Chile, on May 10.
Cristobal Saavedra Escobar/Reuters
People stop along a country road near London, Ontario, to view the aurora borealis on May 10. Auroras are often observed in Canada's northern regions, but rarely in southern Ontario.
People stop along a country road near London, Ontario, to view the aurora borealis on May 10. Auroras are often observed in Canada's northern regions, but rarely in southern Ontario.
Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images
The aurora borealis lights are seen over western Tennessee out the window of a flight from Washington, DC, to Memphis, Tennessee, on May 10.
The aurora borealis lights are seen over western Tennessee out the window of a flight from Washington, DC, to Memphis, Tennessee, on May 10.
CNN
The northern lights are seen in the sky over Rich Hill, Missouri, on May 10.
The northern lights are seen in the sky over Rich Hill, Missouri, on May 10.
Courtesy Jan Reed
The northern lights glow in the night sky in Brandenburg, Germany, on May 10.
The northern lights glow in the night sky in Brandenburg, Germany, on May 10.
Patrick Pleul/picture alliance/Getty Images
In this long exposure photo, cars pass by as people look at the night sky towards the northern lights in Estacada, Oregon, on May 10.
In this long exposure photo, cars pass by as people look at the night sky towards the northern lights in Estacada, Oregon, on May 10.
Jenny Kane/AP
The northern lights seen over Cumming, Georgia, on May 10.
The northern lights seen over Cumming, Georgia, on May 10.
CNN
People pose for a photograph with the aurora borealis in Crosby, England, on May 10.
People pose for a photograph with the aurora borealis in Crosby, England, on May 10.
Adam Vaughan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The aurora borealis glows over Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 10.
The aurora borealis glows over Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 10.
Courtesy Jacob Anderson
The aurora borealis is seen at Crosby Beach in Liverpool, England, on May 10.
The aurora borealis is seen at Crosby Beach in Liverpool, England, on May 10.
Peter Byrne/PA Images/Getty Images