- This Friday, a spectacular aurora can be seen further south than usual, lighting up the northern United States.
- That’s thanks to the hyperactivity of a giant spot seven times the size of Earth erupting on the Sun.
- Northern border states from Washington state to Michigan will have the best chance of seeing the aurora borealis on Friday night.
NOAA has issued a G4 geomagnetic storm warning for the first time in 20 years. The Northern Lights are expected to reach further south than usual this Friday, illuminating states across the northern United States with dazzling light.
G4 is the second strongest type of solar storm. Matt Owens, professor of astrophysics, and associate professor Alex Young, both at the University of Reading, said experts believe these emissions approaching Friday, although they are known to cause radio interference and power grid blackouts, The company does not expect it to cause any problems. NASA’s Director of Science for Heliophysics Science, Goddard, told Business Insider.
“I think we’re going to see some really nice auroras from this group of eruptions. We don’t really expect too many negative effects,” Owens said.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the best time to see the aurora borealis is usually between 10pm and 2am local time, as that’s when they’re most active.
The upcoming aurora is mainly thanks to a huge and active sunspot called AR3664, which is seven times the size of Earth and has been causing powerful eruptions called coronal mass ejections in recent days.
In these powerful eruptions, high-energy solar particles fly toward Earth and interact with the atmosphere, creating auroras, a dazzling show of colorful light.
Auroras are usually located in the uppermost part of the Northern Hemisphere. However, if the Earth were to receive a more powerful blow from these high-energy particles, auroras could occur over larger areas of the Earth.
Over the past few days, AR3664 has increased in size, making it one of the largest and most active sunspots of this solar cycle (which began in December 2019), Space.com reported.
And in the past 24 hours, AR3664 has spewed out four coronal mass ejections and is now hurtling towards Earth at about 560 miles per second, Owens told BI.
Where the aurora is predicted in the US
Because of the relatively strong magnetic fields from these approaching coronal mass ejections, Friday’s auroras are expected to appear infrequently and extend into Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
States such as Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania may also be able to catch a glimpse of the aurora low on the horizon, Young told BI.
“This is the most extreme estimate,” Young said. In reality, we don’t know how bright, active, and widespread the auroras will be until a coronal mass ejection reaches Earth’s atmosphere. Even experts’ predictions only give a rough idea of when they will arrive.
“Our projected timing could be far off,” Owens said.
To see the Northern Lights on Friday, visit NOAA’s Space Weather Forecast website for the latest forecast and to see if you can see the Northern Lights where you are.
Then, when it’s completely dark, go outside and look up. If you are lucky, you may be able to see this wonderful sight.
Correction — May 10, 2024: A previous version of this article incorrectly attributed information and quotes to Andrew Garrard. The most extreme estimates of the Northern Lights and where they can be seen in the United States came from Alex Young.
