Latest news with #auroraborealis
New York Times
a day ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Where Were the Northern Lights We Were Promised?
The forecast looked promising for the northern lights to be visible across much of the United States on Sunday night. From Michigan to Washington State and as far south as Alabama, people expected to be able to look up and see a light show, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But the geomagnetic storm that was expected to make the lights visible across such a wide swath of the country weakened, and instead of a light show, many got a lesson in how storms can change course. Sometimes the storms come as predicted, and sometimes the forecast changes. What happened on Sunday night? The northern lights display, also known as the aurora borealis, is set off by geomagnetic storms, which are caused by coronal mass ejections, or eruptions of materials on the sun's surface. On Sunday morning, the storm forecast for Sunday night was rated as severe enough for people to start chasing the aurora borealis. Some people in northern Europe, Wyoming and Canada did report seeing the northern lights on Sunday night. But the storm weakened, disappointing people elsewhere who had hoped to see a show. The magnetic orientation of a geomagnetic storm can change 'in a minute's notice,' and the energy transfer can become less efficient, said Lt. Cmdr. Bryan R. Brasher, a project manager at the Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
Following a weekend northern lights display, there's still a chance to see them tonight
Social Sharing There was a powerful geomagnetic storm over the weekend, resulting in beautiful displays of the northern lights from Canada down to the U.S. And there's a possibility that the colourful curtains in the sky could be visible once again on Monday night. The northern lights, or aurora borealis, occur when particles from the sun are carried along by fast-moving solar wind. Often this occurs due to a coronal mass ejection, or CME. This is a large expulsion of particles from the sun that travel faster than normal on the solar wind. One of these CMEs hit Earth on Saturday, resulting in auroras seen all over the world. The show continued into Sunday during daylight hours in Canada but then waned. But we are still feeling the effects of the CME interacting with our magnetic field, which means we may still get a show. The strength of a geomagnetic storm is measured using the Kp Index, ranging from one to nine. The higher the number, the stronger the storm. On Sunday, the Kp Index went as high as eight, but it fell to five by early Monday. Although it has dropped, that doesn't mean the show is over. But it's likely that it won't be as powerful or intense as this weekend's display. As Chris Ratzlaff, a seasoned aurora chaser from Airdrie, Alta., and the co-founder of the ever popular Alberta Aurora Chasers, said, there's "lots of potential [and] lots of uncertainty." "The probability is not high because there is uncertainty about the composition of the tail end of the CME," he said. "If conditions in the tail end of the CME remain favourable, then our odds for aurora will improve." Forecasting the northern lights is notoriously difficult. There are numerous conditions that need to be met, including how fast the wind is moving and whether the auroral oval — along which these particles interact with molecules that produce the colours of the lights — tips south, in our favour. The further south the hole dips, the further south the aurora are seen. And, as of Monday afternoon, the auroral oval was tipping south, in our favour. To see them, you should look north. For those further south in Canada, such as in southwestern Ontario, it's best to have a clear line of sight to the northern horizon. The other thing that many Canadians may have to deal with that could hamper any chances of seeing the northern lights is the smoke that is covering many parts of the country as forest fires spread in Western Canada. If the northern lights do show up tonight, don't expect an incredible display like the one from last May or last October. If it happens, this will likely be weaker.
Fast Company
a day ago
- Climate
- Fast Company
Aurora borealis forecast: Northern lights may be visible in 13 states tonight. Here's the best time to see them
If you missed the northern lights, or aurora borealis over the past weekend, you're in luck—you may have a second chance tonight, Monday, June 2, when they may be visible for a second night in a row in some U.S. states across the country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts the next possibility of viewing is Monday night into early Tuesday, with the most intense activity across Canada and Alaska and the northern U.S. states. This aurora borealis is the result of a geomagnetic storm that occurs when a coronal mass ejection (CME), an eruption of solar material, reaches Earth and causes swaths of blue, green, and purple in the sky. This year's increased solar activity is likely the result of an 11-year sun cycle peaking through October. Where and when will the northern lights be visible tonight? While NOAA predicts Alaska is the best U.S. state to potentially view 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,' Alex Gianninas, an astronomy professor at Connecticut College told Newsweek.
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Northern lights could be visible throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Monday night
Northern lights could be visible throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Monday night Northern lights could be visible throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Monday night Northern lights could be visible throughout parts of western Pennsylvania on Monday night The aurora borealis will take to the skies again across Pennsylvania Monday night. From inside the KDKA-TV studios, meteorologist Ron Smiley tackles a busy day forecasting, hosting, and hopefully crossing off a life goal. "I've never gotten to see them," said Smiley, talking about the northern lights. "I've tried a couple of times, I've never gotten to it, so it's still on my bucket list of things to do." However, Smiley knows exactly what to do to increase the chances of seeing the northern lights in person and how it works. "What it boils down to is electrons slamming into our atmosphere, our magnetic field. That creates the light," said Smiley. It's like a neon light on a grander scale. When is the best time to see the northern lights? "It's really hard to time out these ejections of gas or plasma that's heading our way at thousands of miles per hour," said Smiley. The darkest hours bring the best luck, generally after 10 p.m. and before 5 a.m., but your location also matters. To best see the aurora borealis, move away from the city lights. You can even use the camera on your phone to scan the sky and see the colors even better. "(The) best chance by far is going to be off to our north," Smiley said. "But if we have a storm that's more active than what we would normally be expecting to see, then that means our skies are going to light up as well," said Smiley. We saw that a couple of times last year, but this year we've got smoke from wildfires in Canada. That smoke is causing hazy conditions. It's supposed to thicken up overnight. "It could actually make it even better viewing for us to see it by ourselves," said Smiley. He also recommends searching for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast. It shows a 20-30-minute window to help you catch this bucket list moment. "We know overnight we'll have a chance, but once you see that 20-30-minute window light up and they're saying, 'Hey, it's going to come,' that's when you know you have a good shot," Smiley said.
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Northern lights expected in Minnesota this week, but clouds may not cooperate. Here's when you could see them
A strong geomagnetic storm on Monday and Tuesday means there could be a chance to see the northern lights dance overhead in Minnesota. Unfortunately the weather on Monday won't cooperate — NEXT Weather Meteorologist Joseph Dames says the aurora borealis won't be visible due to stormy and rainy skies. The geomagnetic storm Monday evening is rated a G1 — minor — and on Tuesday, it'll be even weaker. But Tuesday, a partly cloudy forecast indicates there might be a chance for viewing the lights. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the southern extent of where the aurora could be visible is just north of the Minnesota-Iowa border. NOAA The storm was stronger on Sunday evening, when Gabe Zago was able to capture a photo of the lights near Cloquet. Gabe Zago To have the greatest chance at seeing the aurora, move to more remote locations, away from highly-populated areas. Make sure to have a clear view of the north. The very best viewing area would be in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, officially recognized as the closest International Dark Sky Sanctuary. The colors of the lights depend on the type of particles in the atmosphere. Oxygen gives off green colors, which are the most common. It also gives off red, but the color is more difficult to see.
