Another geomagnetic storm has been observed, leading to the possibility of the northern lights being visible in multiple northern U.S. states. This is following the second largest solar flare of the current cycle being observed Tuesday, resulting in two coronal mass ejections. The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued geomagnetic storm watches and forecasts that the northern lights will be visible in the sky from Thursday night into the weekend.
The auroras are a natural light display caused by electrically charged particles colliding with molecules and gasses in the Earth’s atmosphere. This phenomenon is typically best seen in high-latitude regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. The best places to see the northern lights include Alaska in the U.S., as well as regions in Europe and Asia.
As the sun nears the height of its 11-year cycle, more frequent and brighter northern lights are expected to grace the sky. This is because sunspots located in regions of intense magnetic activity are expected to increase, leading to solar flares and coronal mass ejections that can collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, producing geomagnetic storms.
To observe the northern lights, experts recommend traveling to dark locations free from light pollution and checking resources like NOAA’s aurora dashboard for updates on the phenomenon’s visibility. The best time to view the auroras is usually within an hour or two of midnight, and it is recommended to go skygazing a few hours before midnight in Iceland, where the northern lights can be seen year-round.
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