Get ready to witness a celestial spectacle! Forecasters predict that the mesmerizing northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, might grace the night sky over Canada and a significant portion of the United States tonight. This stunning display is triggered by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun that occurred over the weekend. The CME is expected to interact with Earth's magnetic field, resulting in a vibrant aurora.
What are the Northern Lights?
Auroras, both the northern and southern lights, are natural light displays predominantly seen in high-latitude regions, near the Earth's poles. These breathtaking phenomena occur when charged particles emitted from the sun collide with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere. This interaction causes the atmospheric gases to glow, creating the beautiful colors we see.
Where and When to Watch?
According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, the geomagnetic storm is predicted to peak between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday. People in 18 U.S. states have a chance to witness the green or red glow of the aurora. While this display is not expected to be as intense as the geomagnetic storm witnessed in Spring 2024, it still offers a fantastic opportunity to catch the aurora.
Even across the pond, the aurora has been stunning viewers, with recent time-lapse footage showcasing the lights off the coast of Flamborough, England.
Don't miss your chance to see nature's light show! Find a location away from city lights and look north. Good luck!