If you’ve come across breathtaking kaleidoscopic visuals of the Northern Lights on social media today, you may be feeling a sense of FOMO. Thanks to a solar storm in space over the weekend, certain regions of the globe have experienced auroras — vibrant light displays — across the sky. If you happened to miss it, you might get another opportunity this evening, based on your location. Space weather forecasters indicate there’s a chance conditions will enhance tonight.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which tracks space weather for North America, states a moderate geomagnetic storm is underway, signifying a noteworthy disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field. A geomagnetic storm arises when the sun releases solar flares or coronal mass ejections — plasma from the sun’s outer atmosphere — directing charged particles towards Earth.
While this storm isn’t severe, it could allow the aurora borealis to be observed farther south than typical, particularly if the storm strengthens. Here’s what to understand:
What leads to an aurora
The colors of an aurora are produced by electrons released from the sun during solar storms. Despite the sun being approximately 93 million miles away, its eruptions can influence Earth and other sectors of the solar system. As charged particles arrive on Earth, they move along the planet’s hidden magnetic field lines into the atmosphere, interacting with the air. When these particles collide with gases, they heat and illuminate, as stated by NASA. The hues vary based on the type of gas and elevation. Oxygen glows red or blue, while nitrogen can produce green, blue, or pink.
Why are solar storms occurring more frequently now?
Like Earth’s storm seasons, the sun undergoes a weather cycle that repeats approximately every 11 years. At the beginning and end of this cycle, activity is the calmest. However, solar activity escalates, peaking in the middle of the cycle, resulting in substantial eruptions from the sun.
Currently, this cycle appears to be at its peak, reaching its zenith. This is why reports of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are increasingly prevalent in the news.
Are geomagnetic storms hazardous?
Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere shield the planet from solar radiation that could lead to detrimental health effects, yet space weather can still impact our world. These occurrences can interfere with power grids, telecommunications, and GPS systems.
Although rare, a solar flare in March 1989 resulted in a 12-hour power outage in Quebec, Canada, and disrupted Radio Free Europe’s signals.
The present storm isn’t extreme, but it might lead to power fluctuations near the poles or disturbances to satellites orbiting Earth. These issues are more critical for satellite operators and aerospace engineers than for the general public.
Where will the aurora be observable on June 2?
The aurora isn’t visible during daytime hours, but space weather models suggest it might be seen farther south after sunset. The Northern Lights could be visible to individuals in New York, Wisconsin, and Washington state, according to a NOAA update shortly before 10 a.m. ET on June 2.
The aurora doesn’t need to be directly overhead to be perceptible, so some observers could witness it from as far as 600 miles away if conditions are favorable.
To boost your chances of seeing it, look for dark skies far from urban lighting and exercise patience: Auroras can be unpredictable. Stay updated with the latest viewline forecasts, such as NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard, which features real-time predictions.