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This is where Aurora Borealis may be visible tonight

Vaseline October 4, 2024

Topline

The Northern Lights are expected to be visible again in several continental US states on Friday evening after powerful solar flares caused aurora-causing geomagnetic storms.

VIK, SOUTH ICELAND: Aurora Borealis spectacular view of the Northern Lights in the sky above the mountain … (+) Petursey Mountain at Vellir near Vik in South Iceland. (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)

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Key facts

After producing a strong X7.1 solar flare on Wednesday, the Sun produced an X9.0 solar flare on Thursday, which is the most powerful solar flare yet in the Sun’s recent solar cycle; the flare that created May’s vibrant lights was an X8.7.

Solar flares can lead to coronal mass ejections – or eruptions of solar material – which are known to cause Northern Lights sightings, and a few CMEs are expected to impact Earth between Friday and Sunday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration initially issued small to strong geomagnetic storm watches for Thursday through Saturday, but all of these watches have now been upgraded to strong G3 storms, which now extend into Sunday.

Friday night’s aurora has a Kp index of five, meaning there will be more activity as the lights get brighter and “quite pleasant to watch” if weather conditions are optimal, NOAA said.

Solar activity has been unusually busy in recent months as the sun’s 11-year solar cycle – called Solar Cycle 25 – approaches its expected peak between late 2024 and early 2026, with sunspots expected to increase in the coming year and likely produce more geomagnetic storms. .

Where will the Northern Lights be visible?

While it’s hard to say where the Northern Lights will appear, they may be the most visible Friday evening in Canada and Alaska, according to NOAA (see image below). However, continental U.S. states within the aurora’s line of sight include Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Friday night’s aurora sightline.

NOAA

What is the best way to see the Northern Lights?

The lights are usually most active between 10pm and 2am. For the best view of the Northern Lights, the agency recommends traveling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights and other light pollution, monitoring the weather forecast for optimal viewing conditions and finding a position at a vantage point such as a hilltop.

What is the best way to photograph the Northern Lights?

Smartphone cameras are sensitive enough to catch the aurora even if it is invisible to the naked eye. Visit Iceland, a tourism website for Iceland, where the lights are often visible, recommends turning on night mode to best maximize the smartphone camera’s exposure.

Important background

Solar Cycle 25 – the cycle the sun goes through about every eleven years – has been the cause of geomagnetic storms that have resulted in recent sightings of the Northern Lights, and NASA predicts this will continue into next year. Cycle 25 began in December 2019 and is expected to reach its maximum – when activity is expected to peak – between late 2024 and early 2026. It is expected to peak with 115 sunspots, where geomagnetic storms form. Although the maximum has not yet been reached, the sun’s activity has been busier than scientists expected, so it is possible that there will be more geomagnetic storms in the run-up to 2026, although it is difficult to predict exactly when these storms will occur. will take place.

Big number

215.5. That’s how many daily sunspots there were during the month of August, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. This is the highest monthly sunspot count since Solar Cycle 23 averaged 238.2 spots in 2003.