Latest news with #MoonGiant
Forbes
22-04-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Northern Lights: Earth-Facing ‘Hole In The Sun' Could Trigger Auroras On Tuesday
The Northern Lights may be visible in the U.S. on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 22/23 due to a large hole opening up in the sun's atmosphere. Visible to NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft, the giant coronal hole measures about 600,000 miles (1 million kilometers); geomagnetic storms could be the result — causing displays of aurora in around 12 U.S. states. An image of a coronal hole on the sun on April 21, 2025, as seen and imaged by NASA's Solar Dynamics ... More Observatory. Coronal holes appear as dark areas in the solar corona — the sun's outer, hotter atmosphere — in extreme ultraviolet and X-ray images, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They allow the solar wind (the stream of charged particles coming from the sun) to escape more easily into space. Coronal holes mean a relatively fast solar wind, which can ultimately cause an intense geomagnetic storm and aurora on Earth when charged particles strike Earth's magnetic field. They then accelerate down its magnetic field lines at the north and south poles to create ovals of green and red. The hole looks dark because the hot gas normally contained there is missing, according to The solar wind is on its way to Earth and is expected to arrive on Tuesday and/or Wednesday, April 22/23, according to NOAA, whose models are predicting a G2 geomagnetic storm overnight. According to Moon Giant, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Monday, April 21, meaning it will rise after midnight as a 35%-lit crescent in the early hours of Wednesday, April 23. These mostly moonless night skies will make it easier to see any faint aurora, but clear skies will also be required. NOAA's aurora view line prediction suggests that northern lights could be visible in up to 12 U.S. states, including Alaska, northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, northern Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, New York and Maine. recommends that sky-watchers 'across Canada and northern-tier US states from New York to Washington should be alert for auroras.' Big displays of aurora are typically associated with coronal mass ejections — a huge expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the corona that can travel in the direction of Earth. However, the current instability in the solar wind is the result of a co-rotating interaction region — a transition zone in the solar wind that causes turbulence. The prediction for potential northern lights comes the same week at the peak of the Lyrids meteor shower. Although it peaked on Monday-Tuesday night, some 'shooting stars' are expected on Tuesday-Wednesday night. The Lyrids can produce occasional bright fireballs, streaks that can be visible for a few seconds in the night sky. The sun's magnetic activity intensifies during solar maximum, the peak of the sun's 11-year solar cycle, which occurred in October 2024, according to scientists at NOAA and NASA. However, while the sun is now theoretically past the peak of its cycle, that doesn't mean fewer displays of aurora. In fact, the declining phase can have very strong solar events. 'This period of solar decline is marked by a decreasing number of sunspots, but not necessarily by fewer impacts, even after the solar maximum," said Lisa Upton, co-chair of the Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel and lead scientist at the Southwest Research Institute, at the announcement in October.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A smiley face in Michigan's sky? When to see a 'triple conjunction' this week
Early risers, you could glimpse a "smiley face" over Michigan this week. A rare formation — a triple conjunction — will take place as Saturn and Venus align with the crescent moon on Friday, April 25, appearing in a triangula shape — similar to a smiley face — according to science news website Live Science. You'll have to turn your head sideways to view the smile, experts say. Here's what to know. The triple conjunction is April 25, 2025. The alignment will occur in the predawn hours, at about 5:30 a.m., Live Science said. A planetary conjunction occurs when two or more planets appear close together when viewed from Earth, according to The Planetary Society. In a triple conjunction, three celestial objects appear close together in the sky, Live Science says. More: When is Lyrid meteor shower? When the fireballs will be visible over Michigan In the upcoming triple conjunction, Venus and Saturn will be near the crescent moon in the sky, NASA said. Mercury will be close to the horizon and Neptune will be between the moon and Saturn, though the two planets may be difficult to see, explained EarthSky, an astronomy news website. Venus, Saturn and the moon will align in a triangular shape, USA TODAY reported. Venus and Saturn will form the eyes, with the crescent moon providing the mouth. However, Venus will look brighter than Saturn, EarthSky said. Live Science says both planets will be visible. The moon is in its waning crescent phase, at 7% illumination on April 25, according to lunar website Moon Giant. Look for a clear, open area to view the smiley face formation in Michigan's skies. Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary. The Alpena area has three Dark Sky Preserves: Rockport State Recreation Area, Thompson's Harbor State Park and Negwegon State Park. In Mackinaw City, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, 15675 Headlands Road. In Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front St. In Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In Paradise, the Great Lakes Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station, 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park at 41382 W. M-123. In Port Austin, Port Crescent State Park, 1775 Port Austin Road. In Clayton, Lake Hudson Recreation Area, 5505 Morey Hwy. In Carp Lake, Wilderness State Park, 903 Wilderness Park Drive. Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Keweenaw County and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Cass County are international spots. And, finally, the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area is an international sanctuary. The Lyrid meteor shower was set to peak April 21-22, but some meteors still should be visible through April 26. The Flower Moon, May's full moon, peaks May 12, 2025. More: When are the full moons of 2025 in Michigan? Here's what to know The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is set to peak May 5-6, 2025. USA TODAY contributed. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: A smiley face will appear in the early morning April 25. Where to look in Michigan's sky
Forbes
20-04-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Forecast: Storm May Bring Aurora To U.S. This Week
The Northern Lights may be visible in the U.S. on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, aurora could be visible during a G2-rated geomagnetic storm. It comes the day after the peak of a major meteor shower. The latest forecast is for a geomagnetic storm this week, with a 'moderate' G2 geomagnetic storm striking on Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23, with aurora displays possible in northern U.S. states — from Maine to Washington — as well as Canada and northern Europe. U.S. states may see the aurora on the northern horizon, though Alaska and those on the U.S.-Canada border will have a higher chance. The Kp index — which provides a rough guide to the intensity of aurora displays — may reach 5 or 6, which will see the auroral oval stretch farther south. Kp 5 or 6 equates to a G2-class geomagnetic storm. The geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024, which saw aurora as far south as Florida, was rated a G5. It was the most powerful since 2003. Predicting the arrival of the aurora is difficult. Data comes to space weather forecasters from NASA's DSCOVR and ACE satellites, which orbit the sun about a million miles from Earth and give around a 30-minute warning of potential spikes in activity. These satellites measure the solar wind's speed and magnetic intensity, allowing forecasters to calculate how the solar wind will affect Earth's magnetic field. Check NOAA's 30-minute forecast and use the Glendale App for localized alerts. The Northern Lights are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. It intensifies during solar maximum, the peak of the sun's 11-year solar cycle, which is thought to have occurred in October 2024. According to this week's geomagnetic storm will be the result of a co-rotating interaction region — a transition zone in the solar wind that causes turbulence, a critical factor for displays of aurora. For observers, the timing of this forecast couldn't be better. According to Moon Giant, the moon reaches its last quarter phase on Monday, April 21, meaning it will rise after midnight as a 35%-lit crescent in the early hours of Wednesday, April 23. That means the evening of Tuesday, April 22, will be as dark as possible — though whether there are clear skies is a different matter. The mon phase aside, aurora are far easier to see in dark country skies, with light pollution rendering them virtually invisible in all but the strongest displays. It's best to be as far away from city lights as possible to maximize your chances of seeing the aurora, using a light pollution map and visiting a Dark Sky Place (a Dark-Sky Preserve in Canada). A dark northern horizon is the most important. Aurora watchers on Tuesday evening could also see the tail-end of the peak of the Lyrids, one of the longest-running and most famous annual meteor showers. The early hours of Tuesday, April 22, should be the best night to catch the Lyrids at their peak — when about 20 meteors per hour is possible — though its peak is relatively broad. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
