Latest news with #CMEs
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Northern Lights continue to be visible across northern New England to start the week
Monday and Tuesday night Aurora Forecast will extend the view line into Northern New England. 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement Ken Mahan can be reached at
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
Northern lights may be visible Sunday night over California. Here's the best way to see them
The northern lights were visible across unusually low latitudes of the U.S. on Saturday night and could even make an appearance across portions of California on Sunday night. Residents in Seattle were treated to a dazzling display of purple and green hues early Sunday morning. Webcams across Northern California picked up northern lights, scientifically known as the aurora borealis, on the horizon. The enhanced auroral activity is being caused by a 'severe' geomagnetic storm, a level 4 out of 5 on the Space Weather Prediction Center's scale. A G4 or greater geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect Sunday into Monday morning. At this intensity, the northern lights could again be visible in portions of Northern California, especially from long-exposure cameras. Skies are expected to be mainly clear across Northern California on Sunday night, but there will be a few scattered high clouds to contend with. Some patchy fog along the coast could also spoil visibility of the aurora. Areas away from city light pollution will provide the best viewing chances for the northern lights. A waxing crescent moon could also make the aurora more difficult to see with the naked eye. The ongoing solar storm is caused by coronal mass ejections, pulses of the sun's magnetic field lurching toward Earth. G4 watch remains in effect for tonight, June 1 (EDT), as CME passage continues. CME passage is slowly weakening, but conditions still elevated, therefore additional periods of G3-G4 remain possible, although less likely. Continue to visit for latest info — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) June 1, 2025 'The G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect for tonight, June 1, as CME passage continues,' the Space Weather Prediction Center wrote. 'There are indications that the coronal mass ejection (CME) passage is weakening, but the solar wind conditions remain elevated, therefore additional periods of G3-G4 (Strong-Severe) levels remain possible.' According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, as 'CMEs leave the sun, it is possible to predict their path to determine if they will impact Earth. This technique is more challenging and the accuracy of these medium-range forecasts is not as good.' However, the aurora can be predicted 'quite accurately' 15 to 45 minutes in advance by measuring other astronomical conditions, such as the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field upstream of Earth. Strong coronal mass ejections can disrupt radio and satellite transmissions, potentially cause power outages and interfere with other pieces of infrastructure. Solar activity, which rises and falls on an 11-year cycle, is peaking. In May 2024, an extreme geomagnetic storm resulted in northern lights sightings all across California, even for some city dwellers. In October 2024, a severe geomagnetic storm brought another display to portions of the state, although less widespread than the May event. An average of 100 severe geomagnetic storms are classified as severe or greater in a typical 11-year solar cycle, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Severe G4 geomagnetic storm sparks northern lights across US and beyond (photos)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Wow, what a show! Our planet is currently reverberating from the impact of a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth head-on in the early hours of June 1 — and the resulting auroras were absolutely stunning. The CME erupted during an M8.2 class solar flare eruption on May 30 at 8:05 p.m. EDT (00:05 GMT on May 31) and has been racing toward Earth at nearly 1,938 km/s or 4.3 million mph. When it slammed into Earth's magnetic field, the impact triggered a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm, which in turn led to striking auroras deep into mid-latitudes. CMEs carry electrically charged atoms, known as ions. When these ions collide with Earth's magnetosphere, they can trigger geomagnetic storms — major disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere. During such storms, the ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light. This light is observed as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Northern Hemisphere, and the southern lights, or aurora australis, in the Southern Hemisphere. Geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale that measures their intensity, ranging from G1 for minor storms to G5, the most extreme. The severe geomagnetic storm conditions reached last night were relished by aurora chasers in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres (those who were still awake anyway). It's likely that the active geomagnetic storm conditions will continue for some time, which is good news for those in Europe, where the sun was already up when this G4 storm began. "G4 storm conditions reached! We are still in the early part of the CME and the ongoing geomagnetic storm, more to come. 12 hours to go for Europe," aurora chaser Jure Atanackov wrote in a post on X. While we wait to see what's in store for tonight, let's first sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning show from last night captured by avid aurora chasers around the world. Terry Griffin captured some beautiful aurora pillars during the geomagnetic storm with his Samsung S24 Ultra. "The white pillars stood out to the naked eye more so than the colors," Griffin told in an email. Griffin captured this impressive photograph at 2:39 a.m. local time from St. George, Kansas, U.S. "Sat the phone on the ground and tilted it up. Easy peasy," Griffin continued. Aurora chaser Brendon captured some fabulous shots of the aurora from the North side of Cheyenne, Wyoming. "Ok, so that was a show," Brendon wrote in a post on X. Aurora photographer Derick Wilson captured a stunning hyper-lapse of the northern lights dancing over Farmington, New Mexico, at 2:15 a.m. local time. "Visible aurora this far south is such a rare occurrence I knew to keep an eye on the solarwind data," Wilson told in an email. "When the expected solarstorm arrived early I knew I had to get far from city lights. And it's amazing what cell phone cameras can capture these days." "Discreet rays occasionally drifted eastward but went diffuse and faded.... For now," Wilson wrote in a post on X. The thick smoke from wildfires was no match for the northern lights above Minnesota, U.S. "Smokey auroras tonight in Northern Minnesota. It was strong enough for the aurora to completely visible to naked eye. As well tint of red color to the naked eye," Gabe Zogo wrote in a post on X. Auroras were also spotted over San Diego, California, during the early phase of the solar storm. "Nice catch! Confirmed #aurora visible on webcams as far south as San Diego, California, USA during the early phase of this ongoing #solarstorm," Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov wrote in a post on X. Southern Hemisphere skywatchers also got quite the treat last night, with vibrant red and pink auroras documented above Queenstown, Tasmania. Sai Shankar captured these stunning photographs from Kaikoura, New Zealand, around 9:35 p.m. local time (5:35 a.m. EDT or 0945 GMT). Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 "I saw similar Auroras in May and October of last year, from Banks Peninsula, near Christchurch. This is the first time I've imaged from further north - I happened to be in Kaikoura photographing whales in the morning," Shankar told in an email. Amateur astronomer and photographer Paul Stewart captured a striking red aurora show above New Zealand. "Bit of an #Aurora going on in New Zealand tonight," Stewart wrote in a post on X. Photographer Mitch Young took these beautiful photographs of the southern lights above Metung, Victoria, Australia around 7:50 p.m. local time. Young used 10s exposure on an iPhone 16 Pro Max to capture these shots. Editor's note: If you snap a great picture of the northern or southern lights and would like to share it with readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Geomagnetic storms might spark stunning northern lights deep into the US; here's when and where to look for the dazzling auroras
Where the northern Lights may be seen Live Events Northern California Missouri Kentucky Alabama When and how to watch Move away from city lights Find a location with a clear view of the northern horizon Let your eyes adjust to the dark for 20–30 minutes Check local forecasts for cloud cover Possible impacts beyond Auroras Minor power grid disturbances Fluctuations in satellite operations Degraded high-frequency radio communications, especially at high latitudes A rare opportunity for skywatchers (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A rare and powerful geomagnetic storm could light up skies across large parts of the United States on Sunday night, June 2. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) has issued a G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm watch , one of the strongest alerts on its storm is the result of at least five coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched from the sun between May 29 and May 31. These CMEs are massive bursts of solar material and magnetic fields ejected from an active sunspot region known as these solar eruptions travel toward Earth , they interact with the planet's magnetic field. If they hit directly, they can trigger vivid displays of auroras, also known as the northern lights NOAA says that auroras could be visible much farther south than usual if the storm reaches expected levels. Overhead displays are possible in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Fainter displays near the horizon might even be seen in places as far south as:However, local weather, cloud cover, and light pollution will depend on visibility. People in rural areas with clear, dark skies will have the best chance of seeing the best time to catch the aurora is typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. During this period, the sky is darkest, and solar activity may peak. To improve your chances:Using apps like My Aurora Forecast or visiting NOAA's aurora forecast website can help track real-time aurora activity in your a G4 geomagnetic storm can produce breathtaking sky shows, it may temporarily disrupt some technology. NOAA warns of potential:Utilities and satellite operators have been alerted to prepare for potential issues. Geomagnetic storms of this strength are not common. If the CMEs arrive with the expected speed and intensity, this could be a rare chance for people living in much of the US, even far from the Arctic Circle, to witness the aurora borealis firsthand.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Geomagnetic storm today: List of states where northern lights will be seen. Latest aurora map here
A strong geomagnetic solar storm erupted on Saturday, heading towards Earth, that might bring with it good news for aurora chasers. The space weather forecasters in the US have warned of a strong geomagnetic storm that could reach up to severe or G4 level. This is due to a blast of solar material heading straight for Earth. The storm also means that vibrant northern lights, or aurora borealis, might illuminate the night sky in various parts of the United States. The much sought-after spectacle might be seen as far south as Oregon, Illinois, and potentially even deeper into mid-latitudes like Alabama and northern California on Saturday night. The incoming coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the sun in the early hours of May 31, and, at the time of writing this report, is heading towards Earth at a remarkable speed. "Our sun finally aims for Earth! NASA model predictions show a very fast #solarstorm travelling near 1000 km/s that could hit Earth by midday June 1. A slower storm ahead might cause a slight traffic delay, but G4-levels by June 2 are possible," Space Weather Physicist Tamitha Skov wrote in a post on X. The UK Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre and NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Centre have also issued a G4 storm warning. According to the warning, G4 levels could be reached on June 2, with strong G2 conditions still possible on June 3. Geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale. Their intensity runs from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). CMEs are large eruptions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun; when they collide with Earth's magnetic field, they can cause geomagnetic storms that trigger auroras. The exact time of when the CME will hit is difficult to predict due to the chances of a slower solar storm holding up the faster one coming from behind. According to the predictions made by the scientists quoted on the CME is expected to impact Earth in the early hours of June 1. So, enthusiasts are advised to keep an eye out for the spectacle as soon as the sky goes dark. The CME could impact different places at different times. In the initial hours, it won't be visible everywhere at the same time.
