Could we see the Northern Lights in Oklahoma tonight? Here's what the aurora forecast says
The night sky had a few more colors than usual, and in case you missed it, you may have another chance tonight.
The Northern Lights are caused by solar flares that make their way to Earth. When the flares get close enough to Earth's atmosphere, the planet's magnetic field protects us from the high-speed electrons and protons.
The magnetic field redirects the recent activity to the north and south poles, making it almost pertinent to view the lights immediately following the activity.
While Sunday, June 1, had a higher likelihood of visibility, another coronal mass ejection is set to strike late on June 2. Here's what to expect for Monday night's light show.
It's possible! Sunday night's light show was more active than predicted for Monday night, but active levels are still forecast for tonight.
According to the NOAA, geomagnetic activity is forecast to peak at 3 p.m. CT, which will make it difficult to view with the sun out at the same time. However, when the sun sets at 8:41 p.m., another peak is expected from 9 p.m.
The best chance of seeing auroras late at night is to look north between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. local time, and away from city lights. This far south, the lights are best seen with a camera, even the one your smartphone comes equipped with.
Although some maps and forecasts have predicted low visibility in southern states, some Oklahomans have still documented nights throughout the summer when they saw the lights in the late-night hours.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Northern Lights in Oklahoma: What time, how to see aurora tonight
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