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A geomagnetic storm begins Friday and will last through the weekend, so experts predict there may be a chance to see the Northern Lights further down the US mainland — along with the Perseid meteor shower that peaks this week.
Northern Lights over Pyihae-Luosto National Park in northern Finland.
Key Facts
The Kp index for the Northern Lights on Friday night is six, meaning the lights will move away from the poles and become “very bright and active.” According to To the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A group of coronal mass ejections – eruptions of solar material – were released Some hyperactive sunspots are expected on Wednesday and Thursday, with more expected later this week.
The coronal mass ejection released on Wednesday is estimated The ejecta that left Earth is expected to arrive between Friday night and Saturday morning, while the ejecta that left on Thursday could arrive on Sunday night.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has expanded its moderate geomagnetic zone G2. Storm Watch Which lasted from Friday to Saturday including Sunday, so there may be a chance to see the aurora borealis alongside the Perseid meteor shower, which is expected to peak between Sunday night and Monday morning.
The Sun is still full of active sunspots that have a history of creating small to moderate M-class solar flares, so there’s a 75% chance of M-class flares over the weekend, with a slight chance of strong X-class flares. According to To the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Solar activity has been unusually active in recent months as the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle nears its expected end. summit Earth is expected to experience a wave of geomagnetic storms between late 2024 and early 2026, as sunspots are expected to intensify over the next year, which will likely trigger more geomagnetic storms.
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Where will the aurora borealis be visible tonight?
Although it’s difficult to pinpoint where the northern lights will appear, they may be most visible Tuesday night in Canada and Alaska, According to According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (see image below), however, continental U.S. states within line of sight of the aurora include Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Latitude Friday night.
What is the best way to see the Northern Lights?
The lights are usually Most active For the best views of the Northern Lights, the agency advises traveling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights and other light pollution, monitoring the weather forecast for excellent viewing conditions and finding a location at an observation point such as a hilltop.
What is the best way to photograph the northern lights?
Smartphone cameras are sensitive enough To capture the aurora borealis, even when it is not visible to the naked eye. Visit IcelandA tourism website specializing in Iceland, where lights are often visible, recommends turning on night mode to improve your smartphone camera’s exposure.
Main background
Solar cycle 25—The sun’s roughly 11-year cycle—has been the cause of the geomagnetic storms that led to recent northern lights sightings, and NASA expects them to continue into next year. Cycle 25 began in December 2019, and is expected to peak—when activity is expected to peak—between Geomagnetic storms are expected to peak in late 2024 and early 2026, when there are expected to be 115 sunspots, the source of geomagnetic storms. Although the maximum has not yet occurred, the sun has been more active than scientists expected, so there are likely to be more geomagnetic storms through 2025, although it is difficult to predict exactly when these storms will occur.
Further reading
Perseid Meteor Shower: Why Astronomers Are Advising You to Put Your Phones Away While Watching the Show This Weekend (Forbes)
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