The Aurora Borealis Is Back Tonight, and It May Hit Up to 20 States
It’s a busy start to the year for sky watchers. There is a the super moon arrives on January 3the same day as the peak of Quadrantid meteor shower. This evening, the Northern Lights should appear. If the cold doesn’t bother you this weekend, you’ll have plenty to watch outside on Friday and Saturday evening.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tonight’s northern lights are the result of a G2 magnetic storm, which tends to push the northern lights into the northern third of the United States. The peak of the storm is expected Friday evening and Saturday morning, just after midnight. This will decrease as sunrise approaches.
This aurora is headed toward Earth because of a coronal mass ejection, a cloud of plasma and other solar material ejected from the sun, on New Year’s Day. The CME was classified as a C6 flare, which is not particularly powerful, but it is moving directly toward Earth. Once here, the solar material will interact with the Earth’s geomagnetic field, causing the Northern Lights to appear.
NOAA predicts that the upper third of the United States will be able to see the Northern Lights tonight.
The states expected to have the best views of the aurora are Alaska, Washington, the northern tip of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Eagle-eyed viewers with a good vantage point should be able to see it in Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Depending on its strength, people in the northern areas of Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania might also see it.
Because the Northern Lights are very similar to normal weather conditions on Earth, the storm may be weaker or stronger than expected. So even if you’re just south of NOAA’s predicted line of sight, keep an eye on your local news in case the geomagnetic storm is stronger than expected, pushing the auroras even further south.
Northern Lights Viewing Tips
To properly view the Northern Lights, follow the same general viewing tips as for any other observation of the night sky. You will want to get as far away from the city and suburbs as possible to reduce light pollution. People who reside in states adjacent to the Canadian border can look upward, as the aurora extends that far. Those in the southern part of NOAA’s planned viewing area will have the best chance by seeking an elevated position and looking north. The higher you can go, the better your chances.
If you decide to join in the celestial festivities, also keep an eye out for the Quadrantid meteor shower and supermoon. Depending on where you live, you may be able to see all three events at once, which would make for a great evening of skywatching.
