Brian Nearing in the Albany Times-Union reports that a solar flare from the sun two days ago could bring a rare display of the northern lights as far south as Maryland. Clouds, predicted for New York skies, may block the view. "This was a pretty big solar flare, as flares go," said Jim Napolitano, a physics professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Friday. While the view of the northern lights may be clouded, the solar flare, expected around 8 p.m., may effect cell phones, GPS, radios, and other frequencies. Read the full story in the Times-Union.