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A strong solar flare slightly less powerful than the one that caused May’s dazzling lights is expected to cause intense displays of the Northern Lights in several US states over the next few days.
MERCER, MAINE – MAY 10, 2024: Northern lights streak across the sky over a horse barn in … [+]
Key facts
The sun produced a powerful X7.1 solar flare on Wednesday that is the third strongest so far of the sun’s last solar cycle; the strongest flare was the X8.7 flare that was the cause of May’s vivid Northern Lights.
The blast was directed toward Earth and resulted in a coronal mass ejection that causes the aurora—an explosion of solar material—that is expected to cause strong Northern Lights activity.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced small, moderate and strong geomagnetic storm watches for Thursday through Saturday, noting that the Northern Lights may be visible in many northern and Midwestern states.
Thursday night’s aurora has a moderate geomagnetic storm watch and a Kp index of six, meaning there will be more activity as the lights get brighter and “quite nice to see” if weather conditions are optimal, according to NOAA.
Solar activity has been extremely busy in recent months as the sun’s 11-year solar cycle – called Solar Cycle 25 – approaches its predicted peak between late 2024 and early 2026, with sunspots expected to intensify over the next year and are likely to cause more geomagnetic storms.
Surprising fact
The Sun produced an X9.0 solar flare on Wednesday, beating the May flare to become the strongest flare of Solar Cycle 25. Because it was headed toward Earth, even stronger northern lights are expected in the coming days.
Where will the northern lights be visible?
Although it’s hard to say where the Northern Lights will appear, they could be most visible Thursday night in Canada and Alaska, according to NOAA (see image below). However, continental US states within line of sight of the aurora include Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Line of sight of Thursday night’s aurora.
What’s the best way to see the northern lights?
The lights are usually most active between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. For the best views of the Northern Lights, the agency advises traveling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights and other light pollution, monitoring weather forecasts for basic viewing conditions and finding a position on a vantage point such as a hilltop.
What is the best way to photograph the Northern Lights?
Smartphone cameras are quite sensitive to get the aurora, even when it is invisible to the naked eye. Visit Iceland, a tourism website for Iceland, where the lights are often visible, advises turning on night mode to best maximize smartphone camera exposure.
Key background
Solar Cycle 25 — the cycle the sun goes through every 11 years — has been the cause of the geomagnetic storms that have resulted in recent Northern Lights sightings, and NASA predicts it will continue next year. Cycle 25 began in December 2019 and is estimated to reach its maximum – when activity is expected to peak – between late 2024 and early 2026. It is predicted to peak at 115 sunspots, where geomagnetic storms originate. Although the maximum has not yet occurred, the sun’s activity has been busier than scientists predicted, so it is possible that there will be even more geomagnetic storms leading up to 2026, although it is difficult to predict exactly which when will these storms occur.
Big number
215.5. That’s how many sunspots there were during the month of August, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. This is the highest monthly sunspot count since Solar Cycle 23 averaged 238.2 spots in 2003.