If you’ve ever wanted to see the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, then tonight is your night.
A geomagnetic storm on the sun will cause an eruption of solar material and magnetic field that will hit the earth atmosphere Sunday, causing the northern lights to be seen as far south as Pennsylvania, Missouri, Colorado and Oregon, according to an Accuweather report.
Geomagnetic storms are caused by explosions on the sun. They can lead bright colors glowing in the sky. The eruption on the sun surface will send particles into space on a trajectory with earth, according to a Space Weather Prediction Center report.
When these charged particles reach our planet, they release their energy in the form of light, kind of like how neon lights work. This phenomenon is about 300 miles above ground level.
Wide areas of the United States, including New Jersey, were treated to a dazzling display of the Northern Lights with another G4 geomagnetic storm in late May.
According to Ian Mann, a space physicist in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Science, we are currently experiencing a high level of solar flares, known as solar maximum.
“If you want to watch beautiful shows of the dancing northern lights, solar max is an ideal time to do that. There’s more energy available, so they’re more powerful, but they also move so they’re at locations where they’re more visible,” Mann said. “It’s a bit of a double whammy if you’re an aurora chaser.”
The upcoming light show is not expected to be as significant as the aurora outbreaks of 2024, but it will be one of the best opportunities to see the lights this year.
Aurora viewing tips:
- Find a dark area void of city lights.
- Face North and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
- If you are photographing the aurora, use a tripod. A longer exposure where you keep the shutter open for 30 seconds or longer is best.
Karim Shamsi-Basha may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter & Instagram.
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