A moderate solar storm is bringing a spectacular display of the northern lights to several US states, particularly those in North Central and Northwestern regions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has rated the magnitude of this storm as a 5 out of 9 for Sunday and Monday, making Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin the top locations to view the aurora borealis.
Viewing conditions are favorable in these states, but less likely in parts of Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. The solar maximum, which occurs when the sun’s activity is at its highest, has been producing an uptick in northern lights activity over several months.
The exact timing and location of the northern lights are difficult to predict due to the vast distance between the sun and Earth, typically taking days for coronal mass ejections (CMEs) to reach our atmosphere. However, citizens can sign up for alerts on citizen science platforms like Aurorasaurus to track aurora sightings in real-time.
To enhance viewing experiences, experts recommend arriving at a dark site before midnight and ensuring eyes are adjusted to the dark. Smartphones and digital cameras are also more sensitive to capturing the colors of the northern lights displays.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-states-northern-lights-tonight/story?id=118653670