Auroras may appear this weekend in U.S. states like Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota after a severe solar storm. NOAA predicts increased auroral activity due to a strong geomagnetic storm with a K-index of five over Friday and Saturday. The likelihood is highest in areas such as Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, with some possibility for other states like Wisconsin or Maine.
The northern lights are expected to increase over the next several months as Earth passes through solar maximum, where more sunspots and magnetic activity will occur. auroras happen when solar material interacts with Earth’s atmosphere, creating colorful light shows. However, predicting exact timing is challenging due to the Sun’s distance (93 million miles) from Earth.
The best viewing window is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. Dark skies are essential, so avoid areas with light pollution or a full moon. Smartphone cameras can capture auroras in night mode, even if they’re not visible to the naked eye.
Stay updated on aurora sightings via citizen science platforms like Aurorasaurus for real-time alerts.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/northern-lights-after-latest-solar-storm/story?id=118066982