Here’s Where to See the Aurora Borealis Amid Tonight’s Geomagnetic Storm
According to NOAA’s estimate, the aurora will have travelled farther away from the North Pole and be “quite pleasing to look at” for those in the right places on Saturday, with a Kp index of four on a scale of nine.
According to NOAA, there will likely be modest geomagnetic storm conditions, which could cause power grid oscillations and have a slight effect on satellite operations.
After the sun released an X2.3 solar flare earlier this week, which NASA considers the most violent, there is also a probability of minor solar radiation storms over the weekend, which could lead to some radio blackouts.
Where Can I See the Northern Lights?
According to NOAA, a portion of the northern United States may be able to see the northern lights at higher latitudes.
Northern Canada and Alaska have a high probability of witnessing the aurora borealis, while a view line that indicates a low possibility of seeing the phenomenon sweeps right below the Canadian border.
Parts of northern Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Michigan, and Maine have a reduced likelihood, while areas in northern Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have a lower risk.
How Can I Get the Best View of the Northern Lights?
According to NOAA, the northern lights are best viewed from a high vantage point free from light pollution and appear between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
How Can I Take the Greatest Northern Lights Photographs?
Turning on your smartphone’s night mode with a slower shutter speed is advised by Iceland’s travel website. Adobe advises utilising a wide aperture, low shutter speed, high ISO value, and the focus set to the furthest setting if you’re using a standard camera.
Important Background
NASA claims that because the sun’s surface activity has achieved a “solar maximum,” there are more sunspots and coronal mass ejections, which alter the space weather.
This peak, which is expected to last through 2025 and into early 2026, frequently makes aurora borealis more visible to more people.
The Leonids, Geminids, Ursids, and Quadrantids are the four meteor showers that will be visible in the sky later this year.
