All articles tagged with #aurora
Space scientists link a medieval solar proton event (roughly 1200–1204 CE) to red auroras seen at mid-latitudes, using carbon-14 in buried Japanese asunaro trees and the Meigetsuki diary to date the phenomenon; dendroclimatology shows the sun’s cycle was unusually short (7–8 years) during that period, indicating a powerful yet sub-extreme space-weather episode, reported in 2026.
Three coronal mass ejections are racing toward Earth and could produce glancing geomagnetic storms over the next few days, raising the odds of seeing the northern lights across parts of the northern United States tonight and possibly into May 20. If conditions peak at G1, viewers in Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan and Maine may spot auroras; with a stronger G2, Idaho and New York could join the show. Most CMEs will miss Earth, but lingering solar wind from a coronal hole could boost geomagnetic activity. The best viewing window is a few hours around local midnight in clear, dark skies away from light pollution, though visibility remains unpredictable depending on magnetic field alignment.
A geomagnetic storm could bring the aurora borealis into nine U.S. states on Monday, offering a rare viewing opportunity under dark, clear skies. For the best chance to see it, find a dark area away from city lights and check local aurora forecasts for the optimal viewing window, typically late evening into the early hours.
A forecast of increased geomagnetic activity suggests the Northern Lights could be visible tonight in eight U.S. states. The piece outlines when and where to look, emphasizes finding dark skies away from city lights, and offers tips on monitoring space-weather updates as viewing conditions can change quickly.
Forecasters say a geomagnetic disturbance could push the Northern Lights into the continental U.S., with up to 10 states in the aurora strike zone expected to have a chance to see them Friday night under dark skies away from city lights.
A fast solar wind from a coronal hole could trigger a G1 geomagnetic storm tonight through May 17, boosting aurora chances across the northern U.S. and potentially allowing sightings as far south as Michigan and Maine, with strongest activity between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. EDT. Visibility depends on cloud cover and darkness; if conditions align, look to dark skies and consider aurora forecasts for real-time updates.
A massive solar flare produced a coronal mass ejection (CME) traveling toward Earth at roughly 650 km/s. The CME is expected to pass by Earth, possibly with a glancing impact late on May 12–13 UTC, potentially triggering auroral displays and light shows across northern latitudes. Met Office and NOAA are monitoring the situation, noting patchy UK cloud but the chance of Northern Lights across northern Scotland and similar latitudes.
A powerful M5.7 solar flare on May 10 released a CME that mostly misses Earth but could graze our planet, raising the chance of northern lights across high latitudes in the coming days. NOAA and the UK Met Office forecast a weak geomagnetic storm around May 13 as sunspot regions AR4436 and AR4432 evolve, with potential for more activity and even X-class flares in the near term.
A powerful M5.7 solar flare from sunspot AR4436 on May 10 produced a CME that could skim Earth around May 13, potentially triggering minor geomagnetic storms and visible auroras at high latitudes; a radio blackout was reported over the Atlantic during the event, and forecasters warn more solar activity may follow as sunspots evolve.
NASA released a trove of Artemis II photos; a sequence of 17 frames of the iconic 'Hello, world' shot was animated by Andy Saunders to highlight details like lightning, aurorae, and satellites. Some appearances of solar arrays may be optical effects from Orion’s window. The animation runs about 1 minute 20 seconds at 30x speed, using images captured with a Nikon D5, Nikon Z9, and iPhone 17s.
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir photographed a brilliant aurora over Earth from the International Space Station at about 250 miles up, also catching a Milky Way view and passing Starlink satellites; she notes the Milky Way appears milkier from the Southern Hemisphere due to a clearer view of its galactic core.
A geomagnetic storm from solar activity could illuminate the night sky across up to 24 U.S. states on Saturday, weather permitting. observers should seek dark, clear skies away from city lights and monitor local forecasts for viewing windows and KP/index alerts as the event unfolds into the night.
Space.com highlights dramatic images from the 2026 Lyrid meteor shower, captured from both Earth and the International Space Station as Earth crossed Thatcher’s debris near the peak on April 22. Ground photos from Alberta and Minnesota show meteors blazing past auroras and city lights, while NASA astronaut Jessica Meir photographed a Lyrid from the ISS. Lyrids are among the oldest observed showers (about 2,700 years) and the event remains active through April 25, with up to ~20 meteors per hour near the peak. The piece also offers photography tips, gear notes, and mentions the next shower, the Eta Aquariids, in May.
A surge of fast solar wind could trigger geomagnetic storms tonight and tomorrow, pushing the Northern Lights into mid-latitude skies from Illinois to Oregon. NOAA forecasts moderate (G2) storms, with the possibility of stronger (G3) bursts. The display is expected to peak between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. EDT, weather permitting, and skywatchers are advised to find dark, clear sites and use long-exposure photography for the best view.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center is forecasting a moderate geomagnetic storm for April 17–18 due to a fast solar wind, with the potential for northern lights to be visible as far south as Illinois and Oregon. Viewing windows are roughly 5:00 PM–2:00 AM ET on April 17–18, and 2:00 AM–5:00 AM ET on April 18, depending on conditions; stronger bursts (G3) could push auroras farther south. If skies stay clear and dark, you might catch faint auroras from northern states, alongside the ongoing Lyrid meteor shower (peaking around April 22). For best viewing, find a north-facing, low-light area and consider using a space weather app for location-based forecasts.