Latest news with #auroras
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Don't Miss Tonight's Northern Lights Show—These 18 States Have the Best View
Find out if the dazzling display will be in your Points The northern lights may be visible tonight across parts of the northern U.S., including states as far south as Illinois, due to predicted geomagnetic storm activity. NOAA forecasts moderate G2 geomagnetic storm conditions between 2 and 5 a.m. EDT. The best chance to view the auroras is from a dark, north-facing location around 2 in the United States, as far south as Illinois, could have the chance to see a spectacular light show tonight. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the northern lights are projected to illuminate the skies this evening. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is predicting minor to moderate geomagnetic storms in the very early hours of Friday morning, with a slight chance of strong G3 levels, caused by an incoming coronal mass ejection (an ejection of plasma mass from the sun's corona). Geomagnetic storms are ranked from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). A G2 storm means that the aurora oval—the zone where there is a higher probability of seeing the northern lights—could move farther south, allowing more parts of the northern U.S. to spot the natural phenomenon, especially if there's minimal light pollution. G3 conditions could bring auroras as far south as Pennsylvania, but that's less likely. Based on the NOAA forecast, residents in 18 states including Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, South Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, New York, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois will have an opportunity to spot the northern lights, with those in the northernmost parts having the greatest possibility. According to NOAA's Kp index forecast, activity could begin as early as 11 p.m. EDT tonight, with moderate G2 storm conditions occurring from 2 to 5 a.m. EDT, which will be the best aurora viewing window. There is also a chance the geomagnetic storm will pop up Friday night into Saturday morning instead, according to the Met Office, the United Kingdom's national meteorological service. So if you don't see the auroras tonight, be sure to check back tomorrow night. The Kp index is a scale from 0 to 9 used to measure geomagnetic activity. The higher the number, the more likely auroras are to be visible at mid-latitudes, away from the poles. NOAA currently predicts the Kp index will peak at 6 in the middle of the night tonight. If you're in an area with the potential to experience auroras, head out and find a north-facing location with a clear view of the horizon that's as far away from light pollution as possible. The best time to see the northern lights will be around 2 a.m. local time. Read the original article on Martha Stewart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Auroras may be visible from 18 states this weekend as solar storm barrels toward Earth
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Space weather experts warn that a moderate-strength geomagnetic storm could hit Earth Friday or Saturday (Aug. 8 or 9) — possibly bringing auroras to northern U.S. skies. On Wednesday (Aug. 6), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a geomagnetic storm watch and suggested that the storm is likely associated with a recent solar flare that erupted from an active region of the sun. The effects of such a storm would be manageable and would be limited to technology infrastructure, NOAA said. But as a bonus for skywatchers, auroras may be visible from New York to Idaho. Geomagnetic storms are temporary disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere that stem from solar wind entering nearby space. Long, high-speed winds traveling in the direction opposite to Earth's magnetic field often cause the most notable storms. The largest geomagnetic storms are associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — expulsions of billions of tons of plasma from the sun. The plasma and the magnetic field embedded in it usually reach Earth several days after erupting from the sun. The possible upcoming storm is predicted based on a CME that occurred on Aug. 5 after a solar flare. The warning predicts that the storm will peak as a moderate category G2 storm on NOAA's five-tier scale for evaluating the severity of geomagnetic storms. (Category G5 storms are the strongest, like the one that struck Earth in May 2024 and made auroras visible as far south as Florida.) Related: Scientists discover strong, unexpected link between Earth's magnetic field and oxygen levels An onslaught of solar wind can cause changes in the currents, plasma and fields of Earth's magnetosphere, causing energetic particles to collect in the ionosphere — the part of the atmosphere that acts as a boundary between Earth and the vacuum of space. The extra heat and density in the ionosphere can apply drag on satellites in low Earth orbit and affect radio signals, which can disrupt navigation systems that rely on GPS. RELATED STORIES —The US isn't prepared for a big solar storm, exercise finds —Earth's magnetic field is weakening — magnetic crystals from lost civilizations could hold the key to understanding why —NASA's Parker Solar Probe spots powerful magnetic explosion aimed at the sun's surface Geomagnetic storms also often produce observable auroras at unusually low latitudes. Eighteen states, as far south as South Dakota and Iowa, may have a chance to witness the northern lights tomorrow and Saturday, NOAA predicts. It's difficult for experts to guess exactly when the northern lights will show, but the agency suggests that the "best" auroras are typically visible in the dark, within one or two hours of midnight. The full Sturgeon Moon, which rises Aug. 9 at sunset, may outshine fainter auroras — so try to stand with your back to the moon if you go aurora hunting this weekend. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Illinois could see the northern lights Thursday night
Illinois is one of 18 states that could get a glimpse of the northern lights Thursday night. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is tracking a geomagnetic storm that could spark some impressive auroras in the night sky. Auroras are normally best seen in Alaska, but tonight's one of those rare nights they'll be active and brighter further from the poles. Northern Illinois and Wisconsin are on the edge of Thursday night's viewing area. Your best bet to see the northern lights is away from cities or other areas with significant light pollution, and within an hour or two of midnight.
The National
21-06-2025
- Science
- The National
Sun unleashes powerful flares as it approaches its most active phase
The Sun has been unusually active this past week, sending out powerful bursts of energy known as solar flares, which have disrupted radio signals and created stunning auroras across parts of North America and Europe. Scientists say this is a sign that the Sun is nearing the peak of its natural 11-year cycle, known as the solar maximum, which had been forecast to take place in July. In recent days, the Sun has emitted several strong flares and enormous clouds of charged particles known as coronal mass ejections. One particularly powerful flare on June 17, classified as X-class, the strongest type, caused brief radio blackouts in North America, with warnings issued for satellites and astronauts in orbit. The Sun unleashed an even stronger X1.9-class flare on June 19, causing radio blackouts over parts of the US and Pacific region. As the Sun nears solar maximum, there is an increase in sunspots and energy bursts that can sometimes be directed towards Earth. Katepalli Raju Sreenivasan, a scientist at New York University Abu Dhabi, said that while solar activity is expected to peak sometime in the next few months, 'no one knows exactly when'. 'It is not going to be especially violent activity this year, so I don't expect any unprecedented damage to Earth's communication infrastructure,' he told The National. 'But I should also say that what matters to us is not necessarily the magnitude of the solar activity but whether one or two of the highly energetic emissions from the Sun reach the Earth. Most, of course, pass by without any effect.' Most of the time, these events do indeed miss Earth or only cause minor effects. But when a strong burst of solar energy is aimed directly at the planet, it can trigger geomagnetic storms, which are powerful disturbances that impact satellites, radio communication, GPS and power grids. Dr Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, a space scientist at the University of Michigan, explained the science behind it. 'Solar activity peaks at the solar max because of the increasing number of active spots on the Sun, which are associated with strong releases of magnetic and charged particle energies into the interplanetary environment,' he said. While this can cause disruptions to technology, it also leads to one of the most beautiful natural phenomena – Northern and Southern Lights, or Aurora. 'On the bright side, increased geo-effective phenomena means more chances of observing the mesmerising Northern Lights over the next couple of years,' he said. 'On the other side, heightened geo-effective space weather threatens our technological civilisation, from space-borne assets and the life of astronauts in orbit due to increased space radiation levels, as well as ground-based technologies including communication and power grid platforms due to increased electromagnetic disturbances.' A reminder from history Solar storms have affected Earth in the past. The most powerful on record took place in 1859, known as the Carrington Event, which disrupted telegraph systems and lit up skies around the world with bright auroras. If a storm of that magnitude happened today, it could severely damage satellites, knock out internet and GPS systems and disrupt power supplies in major cities. In 1989, a solar storm caused a blackout for six million people in Quebec, Canada. In 2003, a series of flares damaged satellites and forced airlines to reroute flights away from polar regions due to radiation risks. Watching the Sun closely To stay prepared, space agencies such as Nasa and the European Space Agency are using satellites to monitor the Sun around the clock. Missions s the Parker Solar Probe and Soho (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) help scientists understand what is coming and give warning before a storm hits Earth. Nasa's Parker Solar Probe became the first human-made object to 'touch the Sun', when it flew through the sun's upper atmosphere to sample particles and magnetic fields in 2021. It beat its own record in 2024 when it made another close approach to the Sun, reaching 6.1 million kilometres from the Sun's surface. The spacecraft also achieved a record-breaking speed of 692,000 kilometres per hour during this fly-by.
CTV News
08-06-2025
- Science
- CTV News
Timelapse of the auroras from Space
Watch Check out this timelapse video of the auroras from space that was captured by NASA astronaut Jonny Kim.
