A Glimpse of the Northern Lights from the Northern Parts of the US

Posted: August 17, 2022 1:16 pm

On Wednesday night, a series of explosions on the sun’s surface caused a region of the United States to experience an aurora.

On Wednesday night, Americans will have the rare opportunity to see the aurora, but hazy conditions may make it impossible to see the sky when the celestial light show is at its best.

Coronal mass ejections, or clouds of charged particles, were expelled during recent solar flare-ups and sped throughout the solar system. On Wednesday night into Thursday, these clouds of particles are anticipated to collide with the Earth’s magnetic field, producing breathtaking auroral displays.

The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of NOAA has issued a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm watch that is valid through Thursday. Skywatchers must generally expect to view the aurora over a sizable portion of the northern tier of the U.S.

“The effects of a G3 storm on our technology are often negligible. The aurora could be driven further from its typical northern residency by a G3 storm, “the SWPC clarified. The GPS could be affected, and the electrical grid could fluctuate during bigger storms, but these effects from this week’s event are unlikely.

Wednesday night’s aurora could be seen as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon, but some skywatchers may have trouble seeing it due to clouds.

The majority of the Northeast, the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, as well as across a portion of Minnesota, are expected to experience mostly gloomy weather. Over central Oregon, a small patch of cloud might likewise ruin the spectacle.

Most of the rest of North America will experience partly to largely clear skies, which will be ideal for viewing, with the greatest conditions anticipated in the northern Plains, Canadian Prairies, and the Rocky Mountains.

Before going outside to search for the northern lights, it can be just as vital to consider light pollution as it can be to look at the cloud forecast.

The frequent light pollution in and around cities makes the aurora too faint to be seen. For a chance to see the northern lights on Wednesday night, residents of Chicago, Boston, Seattle, and Minneapolis, as well as the suburbs immediately around the cities, will need to go to a darker area.

It is advised to avoid looking at the moon to enhance your chances of viewing the celestial event because it can contribute to light pollution and will be blazing in the second half of the night.

In regions closer to the poles, such as Alaska and much of Canada, the northern lights can provide stunning displays, but people in the United States should temper their expectations.

Instead of swirls of straight color overhead, the aurora typically appears in many northern U.S. regions as a green glow on the horizon.

Even if the aurora is not visible to the human eye in places further south, it can still be photographed using long exposures. This was the situation in late July during a comparable geomagnetic storm when a photographer from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia could catch the northern lights’ radiance in a picture.

The cosmic light display won’t be restricted to North America alone. Some northern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand may also see the aurora.

There is a chance of seeing more northern lights on Thursday night, but they probably won’t be as prominently visible as they were on Wednesday night. The G-storm is forecast to subside by Thursday, and the moon will rise earlier in the night, so there will be more light pollution.

“For optimal aurora viewing, head as far north as you can and find an area with little or no light pollution,” the SWPC said. “And give yourself time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.””

If you want to see the northern lights, this week might be your best chance. A G-storm is expected to create favorable conditions for aurora viewing across much of North America.

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