All articles tagged with #aurora borealis
NOAA SWPC forecasts the Northern Lights will be visible tonight across 10 northern U.S. states (including Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine) due to solar winds and a coronal mass ejection; best viewing from about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. under dark skies away from city lights, with additional chances around the March 20 spring equinox.
NASA's Earth Observatory uses NOAA-21's VIIRS day-night imagery to show how moonlight dimmed during the March 3, 2026 total lunar eclipse, revealing auroras, snow-covered Arctic terrain, and artificial lights in Alaska as the eclipse progressed from total to partial; the next total lunar eclipse is expected December 31, 2028.
After peaking in Oct 2024, the aurora borealis is fading as the solar cycle moves toward minimum; recent displays have even been seen in Florida, Mexico, and other southern urban skies. To maximize your chances before they fade, plan a high-latitude, dark-sky trip during clear, moonless nights, seek locations away from light pollution, and monitor space-weather forecasts for geomagnetic activity, staying flexible with dates and destinations.
A NOAA‑issued G1 geomagnetic storm watch due to a high‑speed solar wind could bring the Northern Lights as far south as the U.S. border this weekend, with the best displays in northern states and parts of Canada. For optimal viewing, seek dark, north‑facing spots away from city lights between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.; the near‑90% illuminated moon may wash out faint auroras, so long‑exposure photography can help capture them.
A NOAA geomagnetic storm watch due to a high-speed solar wind stream could bring the aurora borealis to ten U.S. states tonight through the weekend, visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time if skies are clear. Best viewing is away from city lights; monitor live forecasts, and use Night Mode/Pro Mode on iPhones (preferably main lens, RAW if possible) for photos.
NASA launched two suborbital sounding rockets from Alaska’s Poker Flat Research Range to study the electrical environment of auroras. The BADASS mission investigated black auroras by sending instruments up to about 360 km, while the GNEISS mission used a pair of rockets to map the currents in the aurora, effectively creating a 3D view of the plasma. The data aim to improve understanding of geomagnetic activity that can affect satellites and astronauts.
NOAA forecasts a bright aurora borealis display tonight across 12 U.S. states due to intensified solar activity, offering a rare Valentine’s Day sky show. The best viewing window is 10 p.m.–midnight local time, with the possibility of the lights lingering until dawn in northern areas; colors like green, red, and purple are expected, and New York and Michigan could see it despite being typically too far south. To maximize visibility, seek dark skies away from city lights, and check local weather for clear skies. The event is linked to the sun’s approaching solar cycle maximum.
A NASA photo from the International Space Station shows a red and green aurora arcing over Europe as the station flew roughly 262 miles above the Mediterranean, illustrating how solar particles interact with Earth's atmosphere in space weather.
A strong G4 geomagnetic storm triggered by a solar flare and coronal mass ejection could produce faint northern lights visible in north Georgia tonight, depending on a KP index of 8–9. Observers should seek dark skies away from city lights, and a visible aurora may be hard to see with the naked eye. Solar storms can also affect GPS, satellites, and power grids.
A major solar storm lights up the sky as a reminder that the aurora borealis has inspired humans for millennia—from Inuit spirits and ancient Chinese records to Greek and Roman observers, Galileo’s naming and Halley’s magnetic-field link, to modern art, poetry, music, and Norway’s Northern Lights Cathedral.
A coronal mass ejection is driving a geomagnetic storm that could make the northern lights visible across Missouri and Illinois Monday night, though viewing depends on the interplanetary magnetic field turning south; forecasters note clear skies help and NOAA SWPC issued a heightened-activity alert.
A massive coronal mass ejection from the Sun is expected to slam into Earth, potentially lighting up the night sky with auroras across as many as 24 U.S. states tonight (Jan. 19) as geomagnetic activity increases.
A planned geomagnetic storm could bring visible auroras to 15 U.S. states on Friday night, with the best viewing in dark, northern locations after sunset. Monitor NOAA space-weather forecasts and local KP indices; clear skies and minimal light pollution boost the odds for seeing the northern lights, though intensity may vary by location.
The northern lights may be visible in over a dozen states, including Oregon, on Friday night due to geomagnetic storm conditions, although cloudy weather could hinder viewing in some areas.
A potential display of northern lights could be visible on Christmas Eve in northern U.S. states due to increased solar activity, including solar wind and coronal mass ejections, which enhance aurora visibility especially in darker locations.