Topline
A recent coronal mass ejection is expected to disrupt Earth’s magnetic field once again Friday night, potentially bringing the northern lights to more than a dozen states in the northern U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Earth’s magnetic field will likely be disrupted by a recent coronal mass ejection, forecaster said.
APA/AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
NOAA forecast a Kp index of five on a scale of nine, suggesting the northern lights have a minimal chance of being seen as far south as Iowa, with a higher chance of seeing aurora borealis in states along the Canadian border.
Periods of minor geomagnetic storms are expected late Friday and early Saturday because of “influences” from a coronal mass ejection emitted from the sun on Aug. 5, according to NOAA.
Calmer auroral activity is forecast for Saturday and Sunday night with a maximum Kp index of about four and just over three expected, respectively, according to NOAA’s three-day outlook.
Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible?
Northern Canada and Alaska will have the highest likelihood of viewing the phenomenon, once the sun sets in the state. A lesser chance is forecast for parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. (See map below.)
Friday night’s view line.
NOAA
What’s The Best Way To See The Northern Lights?
NOAA suggests traveling to a north-facing, high vantage point away from light pollution sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, when the lights are most active.
What’s The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights?
If using a regular camera, photography experts told National Geographic it’s best to use a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting. With a smartphone, NOAA recommends enabling night mode and disabling flash, while also using a tripod to stabilize the image.
Key Background
More people in the U.S. have been exposed to northern lights displays in the last year as activity peaked on the sun’s surface. This peak, a “solar maximum,” occurs throughout the sun’s 11-year cycle alongside a “solar minimum” and indicates an increase in solar events like coronal mass ejections and solar flares. The swirling, colorful lights of the aurora borealis are created from electrons of these events colliding with molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to become “excited” before releasing energy in the form of light.
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