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Newsweek
4 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Northern Lights May Be Seen Tonight From Over 13 States—How You Can Watch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Stargazers are in for a treat as the northern lights will be visible from up to 13 states tonight, June 2. A geomagnetic storm, caused by coronal mass ejection (CME), is heading towards Earth, which can trigger the phenomenon of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Astronomer professor Alex Gianninas of Connecticut College, explained to Newsweek: "We are currently in the peak of the current solar cycle, Solar Cycle 25, and so increased activity at the surface of the Sun is normal. This includes geomagnetic storms that cause the Sun to expel large quantities of charged particles. "If those are directed towards the Earth, then once they get here, the Earth's magnetic field channels them down towards both the North and South poles and when they hit the nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere produce the beautiful Aurora that we see." The northern lights—also known as the aurora borealis—form when particles from the solar wind excite atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere, causing them to glow. Aurorae manifest as curtains of light that trace the geomagnetic field lines and can vary in color depending on the species of atom being excited. The lights can appear in a variety of colors, from green and blue to purple, pink and red, depending on the type of gas that is hit, and where in the atmosphere that gas is located, according to NASA. A map showing an Aurora viewline for the night of June 2. A map showing an Aurora viewline for the night of June 2. SWPC NOAA Which states will be able to see the northern lights tonight? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, the aurora will be most intense across Canada and Alaska tonight. But, as Gianninas told Newsweek: "Besides Alaska, which is going to be the best place to potentially see the aurora tonight, the other states that are best positioned are the Northern Midwest states from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. "The northernmost parts of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine might also be able to witness the aurora." How to watch the Northern Lights in your state Aurora are not visible during daylight hours, and the best time to be observed from Earth is just after sunset or just before sunrise. It also does not need to be directly overhead, but can be viewed from as far as 621 miles away if conditions are right. Gianninas said: "Precise timing is hard to predict, but obviously it needs to be after sundown, when it's dark, as far away from bright city lights as possible, and Mother Nature also has to cooperate and it's got to be clear skies in order to see the aurora." Optimal Northern Lights Viewing Window by Region (Local Time) Sunset times on June 2 for the states with a chance of seeing the northern lights are as follows, in local time: Anchorage, Alaska: 23:22 Olympia, Washington: 21:00 Boise, Idaho: 21:20 Helena, Montana: 21:15 Pierre, South Dakota: 21:19 Bismarck, North Dakota: 21:30 Saint Paul, Minnesota: 20:53 Madison, Wisconsin: 20:30 Lansing, Michigan: 21:10 Albany, New York: 20:27 Montpelier, Vermont: 20:28 Concord, New Hampshire: 20:20 Augusta, Maine: 20:17 Image of stargazers viewing the northern lights in Edinburgh, UK, during a geomagnetic storm. Image of stargazers viewing the northern lights in Edinburgh, UK, during a geomagnetic night of June 3 also offers opportunities to see the Aurora, but it is projected to be less intense than the night before. As Gianninas told Newsweek: "With this increased activity, we have a reasonable expectation to see more auroral activity for many months to come." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about space? Let us know via science@
Newsweek
24-04-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
What's Visible in Night Sky May 2025—Flower Moon, Meteors, Saturn Returns
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Stargazers are in for a treat as the month of May brings multiple phenomena to the sky. After April brought the Lyrids meteor shower, with between 10 and 15 meteors per hour streaking through the sky at peak time, May has much more in store. The annual May full moon brings about the peak of spring, while another, more intense meteor shower will peak on May 5. Several planets will be visible, including Mars and Saturn. Here's what will be visible in the night sky in the United States in May 2025. Pictured: Stock image of a silhouette of a person looking at up at stars and a meteor. Pictured: Stock image of a silhouette of a person looking at up at stars and a meteor. m-gucci/Getty Images The Flower Moon On May 12, the skies will be treated to the Flower Moon, also known as the Corn Planting Moon, Milk Moon, Hare's Moon and many other names. The Flower Moon is a bright full moon named for the abundance of flowers that bloom this time of year, as the northern hemisphere welcomes the peak of spring, in the lead-up to the summer solstice in June. Connecticut College astronomer professor Alex Gianninas told Newsweek: "The Flower Moon will be full on the morning of May 12 and take its name from the obvious connection with flowers blooming at this time of year. "However, some Native American names for the full moon in May include the Egg Laying Moon and Planting Moon." The Flower Moon occurs on each May full moon, and is on a different date each year: in 2024, the Flower Moon was on May 23, and appeared full for around three days. This year, it will peak on May 12, at 12.56 pm ET in the United States, or 5.56 pm in the United Kingdom, according to The Farmer's Almanac. The Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower From April 20 to May 21, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower will be close to earth, and will peak on the nights of May 4 and May 5 into the morning of May 6, Gianninas told Newsweek. The Eta Aquariids are remnants of Halley's comet, which takes 76 years to orbit the sun—it was last seen in 1986, and will not enter the inner solar system again until 2061. However, each year the earth passes through the debris tails, and at its peak, around 50 meteors per hour could be seen in the sky, some leaving streaks in the sky that can last from several seconds to several minutes after the meteor has passed by. Gianninas explained: "Meteor showers in general occur when the Earth's orbit makes it pass through debris left behind by a comet. The small bits of rock and dust burn up due to friction when they enter the Earth's atmosphere, which we see as a striking meteor or shooting star." He added: "Although [the Aquariids] are best observed from the Southern hemisphere, they can still be seen in the northern hemisphere by looking South East toward the constellation of Aquarius from about 3 am until sunrise." From the Northern Hemisphere, around 10 meteors an hour, skimming the horizon of the earth, will be best seen far away from light pollution. NASA suggests lying flat on your back, with your feet facing east, and looking up to take in as much of the sky as possible. The meteors will last all night until dawn on the morning of May 6. Read more Flower Moon Meaning As Lunar Eclipse Sets the Blood Supermoon Red Flower Moon Meaning As Lunar Eclipse Sets the Blood Supermoon Red Planets in the Sky Stargazers will be able to catch a glimpse of the planets in our solar system, starting with Mars from May 1. Over several days and nights, up to May 6, Mars will approach and pass through a star cluster known as the Beehive, and will be joined by the moon on May 3. According to Almanac, Mars will peak again at the very end of the month, and will be visible in the western sky at nightfall on May 31 in the constellation of Leo, just over the crescent moon. And that's not all, as Gianninas told Newsweek: "Jupiter and Mars will be visible almost due West after sunset but will drop below the horizon quickly, whereas Venus and Saturn will be visible in the Eastern sky just before sunrise." Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about space? Let us know via science@
