Residents of Western North Carolina were treated to a stunning surprise when an aurora borealis was visible in the area over the weekend of May 10 and 11. Reports now indicate that the US may see more Northern Lights in early June; But will they be visible in the WNC area?
The Citizen Times originally reported that the May 10 and 11 auroras would be largely visible in northern states, already a considerably further reach than normal. But when the geomagnetic storm responsible for the aurora was upgraded to a G5 storm, the Northern Lights unexpectedly became visible in NC
Later this week, the sunspot that produced May’s astonishing auroras will return to Earth. With solar maximum approaching and causing more and more coronal mass ejections, science says it is not out of the question that Aurora Borealis will be visible in NC.
Here’s what you need to know about the possible return of the Northern Lights to the NC sky.
More:Aurora Borealis was dazzling. Will the Northern Lights be visible again soon in Asheville, NC?
May 10 Northern Lights in North Carolina
Numerous WNC photographers captured images of the auroras in May, including Jen Blake Fraser, who provided images to the Citizen Times. She also described her experience watching the lights.
“It was mostly a faint glow and I could tell it was red, pink or green,” Fraser said. “Occasionally, more brilliant streaks appeared. Some of those streaks moved and changed rapidly, as if blowing in the wind.”
When will the next Northern Lights be visible?
The sunspot will face Earth from June 4 to 6, but no strong storms are forecast so far.
NOAA’s Space Prediction Center provides a short-term forecast for the location and intensity of the Northern Lights, with 30- and 90-minute forecasts. Keep an eye on these forecasts in the coming evenings if you’re hoping for an opportunity to see an aurora.
More:Planet Parade: What You Need to Know About the Six Planets Alignment in June
Will North Carolina see the Northern Lights again this week?
Currently, NOAA forecasts call for potential Northern Lights visibility as far away as the Northern and Northern Midwestern states. Still, solar weather can be unpredictable, as in the case of the solar storms of May 10 and 11.
What causes Northern Lights?
Although they may look magical, the formation of auroras is a hard science. When particles streaming from the sun are captured in Earth’s magnetic field, their interaction with molecules of atmospheric gases causes the famous eerie green and rusty red displays.
Aurora observations are becoming more common over larger areas due to increased coronal mass ejections associated with solar maximum, the point at which the Sun undergoes the highest activity in its approximately 11-year cycle.
Although the maximum is predicted to occur between late 2024 and early 2026, scientists cannot determine the occurrence of a solar maximum until at least seven months after it occurs, and the frequencies and intensities of solar flares are difficult to predict. The last solar maximum occurred in 2014.
More:When is the June full moon? Why is it called the Strawberry Moon? Why you don’t want to miss it.
Why do the Northern Lights have different colors?
According to reporting from USA TODAY, the bright colors of the Northern Lights are determined by the chemical composition of Earth’s atmosphere and the altitude at which the sun’s particles collide with gases.
The same article states that auroras usually appear green, but can also appear red, pink, blue, or purple. Space.com, with help from the Canadian Space Agency, has provided explanations for some of the colors seen in auroras:
- Green auroras are typically produced when charged particles collide with high concentrations of oxygen molecules in Earth’s atmosphere at an altitude of about 60 to 300 kilometers.
- Red auroras are less common and are usually associated with intense solar activity. They form when solar particles react with oxygen at higher altitudes, typically 300 to 400 kilometers away.
- Blue and purple aurorae, even less common than red, also often appear during periods of high solar activity. These colors are produced when solar particles at an altitude of 60 miles or less collide with nitrogen in Earth’s atmosphere.
- Yellow and pink auroras are the result of a mixture of red auroras with green or blue auroras. They are rare and usually associated with high solar activity.
Cheryl McCloud, USA Today Network, contributed to this post.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.