A strong geomagnetic storm created a dazzling light show in the night sky over parts of the country, with the northern lights dancing in front of Wednesday’s supermoon.
The lights were seen in Alaska and throughout the Northern Tier of the Lower 48. If you missed it, you may be able to see the aurora on Thursday and Friday nights.
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G3, or “strong,” Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Thursday and Friday, with the best chances of viewing auroras in the US states bordering Canada.
Those as far south as Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Oregon may be able to view the Northern Lights on Thursday and Friday.
Geomagnetic storms can disrupt power grids, satellite operations, and endanger astronauts in space.
Solar activity produces geomagnetic storms. The sun is a bubbling hot cauldron of constant activity that periodically emits solar flares, which can result in a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).
CMEs will launch a stream of solar particles into space together with the solar wind. If the stream is aimed at the Earth, the charged particles will contact our magnetic field, sending energy into our upper atmosphere and causing variations in our magnetic field.
The charged particles in a CME produce the spectacular dancing lights known as the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. These lights are usually only seen around the North Pole, but during more severe solar storms, they can be seen as far south as the southern United States.
Auroras created by geomagnetic storms provide a stunning display for those who are fortunate enough to catch a glimpse.
The Space Weather Prediction Center advised people to keep an eye out on Thursday evening and Friday morning for auroras.
When hunting for the northern lights, get away from city lights and into an open location.