Northern Lights continue to be visible across northern New England to start the week
Boston Globe
The current geomagnetic storm was designated a level 4 out of 5 categories, making it one of the strongest space storms of the year.
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The large field of solar particles and magnetically charged plasma, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), has weakened since its arrival yesterday but is still forecast to bring a 'strong' storm Monday evening.
'Although the current storm has weakened, its magnetic field has been persistent and quite slow to decrease before the CME leaves Earth behind,' said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.
This means a 'large disturbance in Earth's magnetic field that varies in intensity,' the center said. This level
of storm typically brings the viewing line to Central and Northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
After Tuesday night, 'nothing significant after the current CME has impacted the longer range forecast just yet,' Dahl said.
What are coronal mass ejections?
Coronal mass ejections are immense clouds of solar material blasted into space by the sun at more than 1 million miles per hour, often following a solar flare. CMEs expand as they sweep through space, often measuring millions of miles across.
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As CMEs pass Earth, they create a geomagnetic storm — when plasma particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen ions in our upper atmosphere — resulting in the shimmering ribbons of color we call the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis.
The collision of the charged particles and atoms in the Earth's atmosphere releases energy, creating visible light.
BOSTON GLOBE
The peak of Solar Cycle 25
The sun has been the most active we have seen in more than 20 years, dating back to May 2024 when a massive display of the Northern Lights could be seen
as far south as Hawaii. This is because we're now experiencing what's known as
solar max, the height of an 11-year solar cycle.
The solar cycle is a naturally occurring phenomenon in which the sun's magnetic poles switch, causing changes in the sun's magnetic fields that create disruptions on its surface. Peak activity is expected to continue into 2026.
You can see the observed and forecast solar activity in the current cycle below.
The sun continues to see peak solar activity in the current cycle.
NOAA
The best strategy to catch the lights
With mostly clear skies expected on Monday and Tuesday, there's a chance that you may catch the lights.
Here are a few tips to maximize your chances of seeing the display.
Make sure to get away from light pollution and look towards the north. Every smartphone has a compass app that can point you in the right direction.
The best viewing window is typically during the darkest hours at night, currently from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Head to higher ground. If there is any way to get to higher elevation, your point of view becomes larger, increasing your chances.
Break out the cellphone camera. The aurora is not always visible to the naked eye but your cellphone can pick up the wavelengths and capture what you can't see.
'Aim it up toward the sky and take a shot. You may be surprised when you check your phone later to find some beautiful shots,' said Brent Gordon, a scientist with the space weather center.
Professional photographers also suggest enabling night mode on your cellphone so it automatically adjusts your camera settings for low-light conditions.
In addition, adjust the exposure time
to maximize the potential of your shot
and make sure that the 'live' setting is off.
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