Read the latest on this weekend’s Northern Lights: Saturday’s forecast says Northern Lights could be seen in parts of the United States.
A series of strong solar flares from the sun starting Wednesday morning could make the aurora borealis visible across large swathes of the United States this weekend.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday announced its first rare severe (G4) geomagnetic storm watch in 19 years in response to a coronal mass ejection (CME) hurtling toward Earth. CME-induced magnetic storms pose a limited threat to our communications, but they can also cause aurora borealis, known as aurora borealis.
And since the sun is at the apex of its 11-year cycle, it’s very likely that more Americans than usual will see the aurora borealis.
Here’s what you need to know about the Northern Lights and when and where you can catch a glimpse of them this weekend.
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What is the Northern Lights?
The aurora is a natural light phenomenon that appears in the Earth’s skies and is famous for being most commonly seen in high latitude regions.
According to Space.com, auroras occur when energetic particles from the sun reach Earth’s upper atmosphere at a speed of 45 million miles per hour. Earth’s magnetic field redirects particles toward the poles through a process that creates the astonishing displays of rays, spirals, and flickers that have fascinated humanity for thousands of years.
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When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
This week’s solar activity increases the chance of seeing aurora borealis across the U.S.
Timing is uncertain and auroras can be a particularly fickle forecast, but NOAA officials say the coronal mass eruption could reach Earth as early as Friday evening into Saturday, SWPC Space Weather forecaster Sean Dahl told reporters Friday morning. news briefing.
NOAA experts said the aurora could be seen through Sunday.
The best Northern Lights are usually within 1-2 hours of midnight (between 10pm and 2am local time). According to NOAA, this time period expands into the evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.
Where can you best see the Northern Lights in the United States?
The northern half of the United States is expected to be in the viewing path where the aurora will be best viewed.
According to SWPC’s experimental aurora viewlines, the most likely areas appear to be northern Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and large parts of North Dakota. Visibility also depends on local weather conditions and city lights.
NOAA experts said the aurora could be visible as far south as Alabama and Northern California. If all else fails, experts even recommend taking photos of the night sky with your phone. You never know what you’ll be able to photograph.
“It will be interesting to see how far south we can get images of the aurora, since things that are invisible to the human eye can be seen on mobile phones,” said Brent Gordon, SWPC’s Space Weather Service Branch Director. Ta. on a call with reporters Friday.
The National Weather Service on Friday released its aurora forecast for Friday night into early Saturday morning, showing more than a dozen states have at least a chance to see the aurora borealis.
How does the solar maximum affect the aurora?
Explosive bursts of radiation, known as solar flares or coronal mass ejections (eruptions of solar material), create geometric storms that send solar particles and electromagnetic radiation toward Earth.
According to NASA, the sun’s electromagnetic activity will reach its peak as the frequency of coronal mass ejections increases during the peak of the 11-year cycle, which is expected to occur in 2025. What this so-called “solar maximum” means for us is an increased risk of disruption to satellite signals, radio communications, the internet, and power grids.
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Last December, a powerful burst of energy created the largest solar flare detected by NASA since 2017.
The last G4-level solar storm hit Earth in March, one of only three such severe storms observed since 2019, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. It is.
Just like in March, the upcoming solar storm will cause particles flowing from the sun to get caught up in Earth’s magnetic field and interact with atmospheric gas molecules to form colorful auroras. The resulting green or reddish aurora can be quite a spectacle.
Contributor: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
Eric Lagatta covers the latest and trending news for USA TODAY. Please contact elagatta@gannett.com.
