The Northern Lights Should Bloom at Solar Maximum: How to See the Aurora Borealis

The famous northern lights may appear in a sky near you in the coming months – if they haven’t already.

The sun and the intense magnetic activity it generates that causes the northern lights waxes and wanes during the 11-year solar cycle, which is at its maximum.
With NASA expecting solar maximum to continue into 2025, aurora hunters should have many more opportunities to catch the northern lights.

Aurora hunters are about to see famous northern lights no need to worry about traveling to Alaska, a state known as one of the best places in North America to see shades of green and red.

The famous celestial phenomenon, better known as the Northern Lights, could become a reality in the coming months. the sky is next to you – if this has not already happened. Now that the sun has officially reached its solar maximumObservers around the world should expect auroras to blanket the night sky more often in the northern hemisphere, according to NASA.

So how does the sun affect a phenomenon that is best observed when it is nowhere to be found? It’s all due to solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and some pretty cool interactions in Earth’s atmosphere.

Here’s everything you need to know about the northern lights and how to see them now that the sun has reached its solar maximum.

What is solar maximum?

The sun and the intense magnetic activity it generates that causes the northern lights waxes and wanes during the 11-year solar cycle. The peak of activity—solar maximum—occurs when the sun’s north and south magnetic poles reverse.

When this happens, the Sun “changes from a quiet state to an active and stormy state,” NASA said in an October press release.

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration track sunspots—the source of solar eruptions—to predict the course of the solar cycle and the solar activity it fuels.

Now that the agencies have established that the sun has reached its zenith Solar cycle 25The number of sunspots located in regions of intense magnetic activity should increase. When this magnetic activity is released, it creates intense bursts of radiation leading to solar flares, which NASA considers flares of our solar system. major explosive events.

Solar flares emit radiation, mostly in the form of ultraviolet and x-rays, which can rush toward Earth at the speed of light. Some of these flares may be accompanied by coronal mass ejections, or clouds of plasma and charged particles that emerge from the Sun’s outermost atmosphere, the corona.

These emissions could collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, the barrier that protects humanity from the harshest effects of space weather, and produce geomagnetic storms.

New geomagnetic storms could trigger the appearance of the northern lights

This may seem intimidating and because increased risk of things like satellite signal disruptionradio communications, internet and electrical networks, it can be.

But increased potential for new geomagnetic storms can also mean more impressive northern lights.

In early October, Americans from the northern United States and even southern Alabama had the opportunity to witness the bright rays, spirals and shimmers of the northern lights that intensified when the solar coronal mass ejection of plasma clouds and charged particles brought a geomagnetic storm towards Earth. The storm was so strong it prompted NOAA release a rare G4 geomagnetic storm watch for the second time this year.

The first happened in May, when powerful geomagnetic storm was responsible for some reports of power grid disruptions and interference with GPS signals – even agricultural equipment. On the other hand, it also gave free rein breathtaking views Northern Lights in parts of the country where auroras are rarely observed.

This particular one storm watch was NOAA’s first report in 19 years of a geomagnetic storm classified as a G4 – one level away from the strongest solar storm. Against the background of solar activity, the Sun even radiated explosive release of radiation it became largest solar flare discovered since 2017, according to NOAA.

A phenomenon that has made several recent speeches throughout the US there were also especially noticeable again in August during the time of the Perseids, which astronomers believed best meteor shower of the year.

Moreover, since NASA expects the solar maximum to continue into 2025, aurora hunters should have many more opportunities to catch the northern lights.

What causes auroras?

Auroras natural light in the Earth’s sky which are known to be best visible in high-latitude regions of the northern and southern hemispheres.

This phenomenon occurs when electrically charged particles from space enter the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with it. molecules and gases such as oxygen and nitrogencausing atmospheric particles to gain energy. To return to normal, the particles release this energy in the form of light, according to the website of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, which tracks the phenomenon.

When auroras form, the Earth’s magnetic field redirects particles toward the poles through a process that creates a stunning display of rays, spirals and twinkles that has fascinated people for millennia. The shades of green, red, blue and even pink dancing in the sky depend on the altitude at which the collisions occur, as well as the composition and density of the atmosphere at that moment.

Where and when can you see the northern lights?

Solar storms send particles emanating from the Sun that fall into the Earth’s magnetic field. causing the formation of colorful auroras when they interact with molecules of atmospheric gases. The resulting glowing auroras could be a sight to behold in the coming months if you look up in the right place at the right time.

Auroras are best seen around the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres in places such as Europe, Asia and North America. It is well known in the US that Alaska has the best opportunities for viewing the Northern Lights.

Even though conditions are ideal for upcoming aurora events, experts have long struggled to accurately determine predict exactly when and where this phenomenon will ever happen. Even the best forecasts can only be made accurately a few days or even hours in advance.

NOAA, however, supports Aurora dashboard this should help sky watchers track the phenomenon.

And if it looks like the northern lights will appear near you, it is recommended to leave the cities and go to dark places free from light pollution. If the weather is clear, the best aurora is usually visible within an hour or two after midnight.according to NOAA.

Assistance: Max HauptmannUSA TODAY

A version of this story was last publication October 1.

Eric Lagatta covers the latest and trending news for USA TODAY. Contact him at [email protected]..