Current:Home > MarketsNorthern lights may be visible in more than a dozen states Monday night: Here's what to know -TradeCircle
Northern lights may be visible in more than a dozen states Monday night: Here's what to know
View
Date:2025-04-12 14:15:43
A geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for Monday and Tuesday, which may result in the aurora borealis, or the northern lights, to be visible over some U.S. states.
On Saturday, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center observed a corneal mass ejection, or an eruption of solar material, lifting off of the sun. It is expected to cause up to moderate geomagnetic storming.
Watches of this level for geomagnetic storms are not uncommon, according to the Space Weather Prediction Service, and the general public does not need to be concerned. It could, however, result in the aurora visible in multiple northern continental states, from New York, to the Midwest and Idaho.
Here's what to know about when and where to watch the aurora this week.
Aurora lovers, rejoice:2024 could be a great year for northern lights, due to solar maximum
Where to see the aurora in the U.S.
Some states already had the chance to see the aurora on Sunday, and luckily, visibility is forecasted to grow Monday.
Alaska, thanks to its northern location, already has a high likelihood of seeing the aurora, but with the geothermal storm, other states may also catch a glimpse.
According to the Space Weather Prediction Center's forecast for Monday, the view line, denoted by the red line, could make them visible in these 17 states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
While seeing the aurora may be in the forecast, there are factors that influence how likely you may see the lights. According to the Aurora Zone, the sun's activity, cloud cover and solar winds can all affect the likelihood of seeing the aurora. If your area's forecast looks clear, there's a better chance you may see the aurora than on a cloudier night.
The NOAA notes it is possible to predict aurora a day or so in advance, though more accurate predictions can be measured between 15-45 minutes in advance.
The lights may be visible from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. EST in the U.S. To keep up to date, check the Space Weather Prediction Center's 30-minute aurora forecast.
How to see the northern lights
The northern lights aren't as common in the Lower 48 of the U.S., so seeing them with the naked eye can be an uncommon occurrence.
When you're looking for the northern lights, try using your camera if you're not seeing anything. The devices are known to pick up the lights better than the human eye.
Make sure to look closely, because faint levels of aurora can sometimes look like white clouds.
What is a geomagnetic storm?
According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, a geomagnetic storm is caused by a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere. It occurs when there is an exchange of energy from solar wind into the space environment surrounding the planet.
Large geomagnetic storms are associated with solar coronal mass ejections, where around a billion tons of plasma from the sun arrive at Earth. The geomagnetic storm that may cause the northern lights to be visible over the coming days is a result of coronal mass ejections, which typically take a few days to arrive at Earth.
What is the aurora?
An aurora is the glow that results when electrons from space collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's upper atmosphere.
Depending on the hemisphere, the aurora may go by a different name: aurora borealis, or northern lights in the Northern Hemisphere, and aurora australis, or the southern lights in the Southern Hemisphere.
Thanks to Earth's magnetic field, the aurora is typically formed around the North and South poles, but geomagnetic storms can cause their visibility to be even greater.
The aurora typically forms 80 to 500 kilometers above the Earth's surface.
When you can see the aurora in 2024
Even is you miss the aurora borealis caused by the geomagnetic storm, there are other chances to see activity caused by the sun.
We are approaching the peak of Solar Cycle 25, according to the NOAA, and can expect to see more sunspots, causing solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The NOAA says this period of elevated activity can last up to several years, with impactful space weather events possible in 2024.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- U.S. military airlifts embassy staff from Port-au-Prince amid Haiti's escalating gang violence
- Netanyahu dismisses Biden's warning over innocent lives being lost in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza
- Aaron Judge undergoes MRI on his abs and gets results. What's next for Yankees' captain?
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Man pleads guilty to murdering University of Utah football player Aaron Lowe
- Ryan Gosling's I'm Just Ken Oscars Secrets Revealed: Emma Stone Moment, Marilyn Inspiration and More
- New Heights: Jason and Travis Kelce win iHeartRadio Podcast of the Year award
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Massachusetts governor appeals denial of federal disaster aid for flooding
Ranking
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Reputed gang leader acquitted of murder charge after 3rd trial in Connecticut
- Lake Minnetonka just misses breaking 100-year record, ice remains after warm winter
- Beyoncé Just Revealed the Official Name of Act II—And We’re Tipping Our Hats to It
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Pope Francis says Ukraine should have courage of the white flag against Russia
- Wisconsin Republicans fire eight more Evers appointees, including regents and judicial watchdogs
- California is home to the most expensive housing markets in the US: See a nationwide breakdown
Recommendation
Travis Hunter, the 2
Sister Wives’ Garrison Brown Laid to Rest After His Death
Fifth body found shot near West Virginia house fire where four people died
NFL free agency winners, losers: Cowboys wisely opt not to overspend on Day 1
Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
Buttigieg scolds railroads for not doing more to improve safety since Ohio derailment
Sister Wives’ Garrison Brown Laid to Rest After His Death
Hairy? These Are the Best Hair Removal Products From Shaving to Waxing