Topline
The Northern Lights are expected to return to the continental United States this week after a weekend display in northern and eastern states, a precursor to the much more powerful aurora expected on Wednesday.
KIRUNA, SWEDEN – MARCH 7: The Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, can be seen in … [+]
Key Facts
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, there may be a chance to see the northern lights on Tuesday night, as the aurora has a Kp index of three. This means the lights are moving farther from the poles and will appear brighter to observers.
This follows a coronal mass ejection (an outburst of solar material) last week, which caused a strong G3 geomagnetic storm that led to the Northern Lights being visible over the weekend.
The aurora is expected to be stronger and visible in even more states on Wednesday, with a Kp index of four, after NOAA issued a geomagnetic storm warning after a cooler part of the sun (called a filament) triggered a new coronal mass ejection on Saturday.
Solar activity has been unusually busy in recent months, as the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle reaches its expected peak between late 2024 and early 2026. Sunspots are expected to become more intense in the coming year, likely triggering more geomagnetic storms.
Where can the Northern Lights be seen tonight?
While it’s notoriously difficult to predict where the Northern Lights will be visible, NOAA says they may be most visible Tuesday night in Canada and Alaska (see image below). However, the continental U.S. states within the aurora’s line of sight include the northernmost parts of Washington and Idaho, much of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Viewline of the Northern Lights on July 2, 2024.
What is the best way to see the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are usually most active between 10pm and 2am. To see the Northern Lights at their best, the agency advises travelling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights and other light pollution. Also, keep an eye on the weather forecast for optimal viewing conditions and find a vantage point, such as a hilltop.
What is the best way to photograph the Northern Lights?
Smartphone cameras are sensitive enough to catch the Northern Lights, even if they are invisible to the naked eye. Visit Iceland, a tourism website for Iceland, where the lights are often visible, recommends turning on night mode to make the most of your smartphone camera’s exposure.
Main background
Solar Cycle 25, the cycle the sun goes through approximately every 11 years, is causing geomagnetic storms that have led to recent sightings of the northern lights, and NASA predicts it will continue into next year. Cycle 25 began in December 2019 and is expected to reach its maximum, when activity is expected to peak, between late 2024 and early 2026. It is expected to peak with 115 sunspots, where geomagnetic storms originate. While it has not yet reached its maximum, the sun has been busier than scientists expected, so it is possible that there will be more geomagnetic storms in the run-up to 2025, although it is difficult to predict exactly when these storms will occur.
Tangent
NASA and NOAA launched a new satellite into space last week to better predict space weather and the northern lights. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U mission (or GOES-U) launched Tuesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in Florida. It is the fourth and final satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites R Series, which NOAA calls “the most advanced weather observation and environmental monitoring system in the Western Hemisphere.” The satellite will allow NOAA to issue geomagnetic storm warnings one to four days in advance, as well as track and capture images of other weather events such as lightning and fog.