A major geomagnetic storm could mean a treat for stargazers tonight, with a strong aurora likely across the northern U.S.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading straight for Earth. CMEs are larges cloud of energetic and magnetized plasma, which erupt from the sun into space and can cause radio and magnetic disturbances if they hit Earth.
This CME was caused by a solar flare—a massive explosion on the sun’s surface—and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) believes it may lead to auroras much further south than normal.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has published a map projecting where the aurora may be viewed from.
The map shows the view line for tonight’s projected aurora, in a color gradient from green to red, where those under the red line will enjoy the highest intensity of the northern lights.
North America is set for a spectacular display, with most of Canada, plus Alaska, firmly in the red.
Several northern states—Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin—are all in the green section, meaning the aurora should be visible if the conditions are right.
However, the aurora does not need to be directly overhead to be seen and can be observed from up to some 620 miles away when the aurora is bright on a clear, dark night.
The northern lights are usually best observed from just after sunset or just before sunrise.
The view of an aurora is affected by light pollution; it is generally recommended to go somewhere dark, with no clouds, for the best view.
Auroras are bright and colorful displays in the night sky, caused when energetic particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere.
Green, blue, purple, pink and red hues can often be seen in auroras, with the color depending on the type of gas at play and where in the atmosphere such is located.
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