Topline
The Northern Lights are projected to return this week to the continental U.S. after the weekend’s display in northern and eastern states—a pre-show for the much stronger aurora borealis expected Wednesday.
KIRUNA, SWEDEN – MARCH 7: The Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, are seen in … [+]
Getty ImagesKey Facts
There may be a chance to catch the Northern Lights Tuesday night as the aurora has a Kp index of three, meaning the lights will move further from the poles and appear brighter to observers, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
This comes after a coronal mass ejection—an eruption of solar material—last week caused a strong G3 geomagnetic storm that resulted in the Northern Lights popping up over the weekend.
The aurora is projected to be stronger and visible to even more states on Wednesday with a Kp index four after NOAA announced a geomagnetic storm watch after a cooler region of the sun (called a filament) caused another coronal mass ejection on Saturday.
Solar activity has been unusually busy in recent months as the sun’s 11-year solar cycle approaches its anticipated peak between late 2024 and early 2026, with sunspots expected to intensify over the next year, and likely triggering more geomagnetic storms.
Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible Tonight?
Although it’s notoriously difficult to predict where the Northern Lights will be visible, they may be the most visible Tuesday night in Canada and Alaska, according to NOAA (see image below). However, continental U.S. states within the aurora’s view line include the northernmost parts of Washington and Idaho, much of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.
View line of the Northern Lights July 2, 2024.
NOAAWhat’s The Best Way To See The Northern Lights?
The lights are typically the most active between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. For the best views of the Northern Lights, the agency advises traveling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights and other light pollution, monitoring weather forecasts for prime viewing conditions and finding a position on a vantage point like a hilltop.
What’s The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights?
Smartphone cameras are sensitive enough to pick up the aurora, even when it’s invisible to the naked eye. Visit Iceland, a tourist website for Iceland, where the lights are often visible, advises turning on night mode to best increase smartphone camera exposure.
Key Background
Solar Cycle 25—the cycle the sun goes through around every 11 years—has been the cause of geomagnetic storms that have resulted in recent sightings of the Northern Lights, and NASA predicts it will continue on into next year. Cycle 25 began in Dec. 2019, and it’s estimated it will reach its maximum—when activity is expected to peak—between late 2024 and early 2026. It’s projected to peak with 115 sunspots, which are where geomagnetic storms originate. Although the maximum hasn’t happened yet, the sun’s activity has been busier than scientists anticipated, so it’s possible there will be even more geomagnetic storms leading up to 2025, though it’s 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) was launched last Tuesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in Florida. It’s the fourth and final satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites R Series, which is “the Western Hemisphere’s most sophisticated weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system,” according to NOAA. The satellite will allow NOAA to issue geomagnetic storm watches one to four days in advance, as well as track and take pictures of other weather events like lightning and fog.