Where will the Northern Lights be visible this week? The Northern Lights may be seen Monday, Sept. 16 as far south as California, Missouri and Colorado after major solar activity over the weekend .
Earth-orbiting satellites detected a X4.5 class solar flare exploding from the AR3825 sunspot as it turned towards on Saturday, Sept. 14, according to SpaceWeather.com. In its wake, a coronal mass ejection sent a cloud of charged particles in the direction of Earth. Space weather experts think it will arrive Monday, NOAA forecasters predicting a “strong” G3-class geomagnetic storm.
Solar activity is currently at a 23-year high, with May 10’s extreme G5 geomagnetic storm being the most severe in the past two decades and possibly for hundreds of years. The sun is approaching “solar maximum,” with SWPC’s latest forecast is for it to happen between August 2024 and January 2025.
Where To See The Northern Lights This Week
A G3 geomagnetic storm is being forecast, though it could, in practice, turn out to be either a weaker G2 or a stronger G4.
G3 storms can generally be seen as far south as Illinois and Oregon while G4 storms can generally be seen as far south as Alabama and northern California. The global geomagnetic storm on May 10 was predicted to be a G4, but it reached G5 strength.
NOAA predicts geomagnetic storm conditions may continue through Tuesday, Sept.17, though space weather is unpredictable and the forecast can change quickly.
Check NOAA’s aurora view line, which is available for tonight and tomorrow night, and its 30-minute forecast and X account, where the latest forecasts are posted. For those in the U.K., Lancaster University’s AuroraWatch website is invaluable.
The ‘Equinox Effect’
Close to September ‘s equinox there’s a greater chance of Northern Lights because any magnetic disturbance can have a more significant effect than is typical. That’s because there’s a connection between Earth’s magnetic field and that of the solar wind.
Only those in dark skies—away from urban light pollution—will likely get naked eye views. A waxing gibbous moon in the sky for most of the night could make aurora tougher to see. Suggested locations are an International Dark Sky Place (U.S./worldwide), a Dark-Sky Preserve (Canada) or a Starlight Reserve (Spain). Or consult a light pollution map—anywhere with a dark northern horizon is a good location.
The Northern Lights Explained
The solar wind causes the northern lights. It’s a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
If CMEs occur on the Earth-facing side of the sun and are Earth-directed, they can take a few days to reach Earth. They occur from sunspots on the solar surface, usually in the wake of solar flares, which travel at light speed and can cause a geomagnetic disturbance just eight minutes later.
When they arrive, they create extreme geomagnetic storms, involving strong currents that can potentially damage power transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines, railways and submarine cables. As charged particles strike Earth’s magnetic field, they accelerate down its magnetic field lines at the north and south poles to create ovals of green and red.
Aurora is typically seen in polar regions at around latitudes of 70 degrees north and south, but during extreme geomagnetic conditions—usually when CMEs arrive at Earth one after another, or in tandem—the auroral oval can bulge, with displays then seen as far as 40 degrees north and south.
May’s G5 geomagnetic storm—the strongest since 2003—was caused by several CMEs traveling at different speeds that caught up with each other before striking Earth together. Space weather forecasters were not able to give a precise prediction in advance.
How The Aurora’s Kp Index Works
The predicted displays of aurora borealis have predicted Kp index of between 3 and 7 Here’s how that part of the Kp index works and what you’ll see, according to NOAA:
- Kp 3 to 5: “The aurora will move further from the poles, it will become brighter, and there will be more auroral activity (motion and formations). If you are in the right place, these aurora can be quite pleasing to look at.”
- Kp 6 to 7: “The aurora will move even further from the poles and will become quite bright and active. At this geomagnetic activity level, it might be possible to see the aurora from the northern edge of the United States.”
How To Photograph The Northern Lights
Here’s how to use a smartphone to photograph displays of aurora:
- Engage “Night Mode,” which will be good enough to get a more impressive souvenir shot of the aurora. It likely means a long exposure of between five and 10 seconds, which makes the next three steps essential.
- Use your primary lens, NOT the super-wide lens (which is inferior).
- Use a basic smartphone holder and a small tripod to prevent any camera shake, keeping your images sharp.
- Shoot in raw, making it easier to improve your photos using simple edits.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
