Northern lights may light up the sky over Washington state tonight, Aug. 18
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center's aurora forecast shows much of Washington state inside the agency's aurora "view line," which represents the southernmost regions where the northern lights might be visible on the northern horizon. The parts of Washington not inside the view line are in the southwestern areas of the state.
The agency's forecast means that the aurora borealis may be seen in 15 U.S. states overnight from Aug. 18-19, Space.com reported.
"A large coronal hole is currently facing Earth, ejecting a fast-moving stream of solar wind in our general direction. Coronal holes are open regions in the sun's magnetic field, which allow solar wind to escape more easily," the website reported. "The high-speed solar wind stream is forecast to buffet Earth's magnetic field tonight, raising the potential of sparking minor geomagnetic storm conditions."
Here's what stargazers should know.
Will it be cloudy in Washington state tonight, Aug. 18?
Tonight's cloud forecast is a mixed bag for Washington state. The National Weather Service's sky cover prediction for 11 p.m. shows good viewing conditions in Eastern Washington, while dark clouds may cover about half the sky in heavily populated parts of Western Washington.
Places such as Spokane, Moses Lake, Pasco, and Omak will have sky cover percentages ranging from 8% to 31%, according to the NWS. Anything around 30% or less is generally considered "good" for viewing the night sky, according to Space.com.
The picture changes going west. Places such as Seattle and Olympia are predicted to have opaque clouds covering from 32% to 53% of the sky at 11 p.m., according to the NWS. And dark clouds are expected to cover about 83% of the night sky.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Washington state?
The best time to see the northern lights in Washington is typically within an hour or two of midnight, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. PT, according to NOAA.
"These hours of active aurora expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases," NOAA's website states. "There may be aurora in the evening and morning but it is usually not as active and therefore, not as visually appealing."
Skywatchers should also try to find a dark location away from city lights.
"For a more immersive and vibrant experience, consider capturing long exposures with a camera to reveal the true brilliance of the auroras," states the AuroraAdmin website. "However, keep in mind that the colors you observe with your eyes may not perfectly match the striking tones seen in photographs."
What are the northern lights?
The auroras are a natural light display in Earth's sky that are famously best seen in high-latitude regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to gain energy. To return to their normal state, the particles release that energy in the form of light, according to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks Geophysical Institute website, which tracks the phenomenon.
As auroras form, Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles through a process that produces a stunning display of rays, spirals, and flickers that have fascinated humans for millennia. Whether hues of green, red, blue and even pink dance about in the sky depends on the altitude where the collisions occur, as well as the composition and density of the atmosphere at the time.
Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Northern lights may sparkle over Washington state tonight, Aug. 18
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