The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, may be visible Wednesday night in the northwestern U.S. and some midwestern states. This stunning phenomenon of greenish and reddish hues has been occurring more frequently due to increasing electromagnetic activity as the sun reaches the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. This solar maximum brings the risk of disruptions to satellite signals, radio communications, internet, and power grids, but also increases the chance of seeing the northern lights.
Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use a five-level ‘G scale’ to measure the intensity of geomagnetic storms caused by coronal mass ejections from the sun. The auroras may be visible in North America, including Canada, Alaska, and some states such as Michigan and Maine. Other states in the aurora’s view line include Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
The best time to see the northern lights is usually within an hour or two of midnight, if the weather is clear. The resulting glowing green and reddish colors are caused by particles from the sun interacting with atmospheric gases, creating a stunning display of rays, spirals, and flickers that have fascinated humans for millennia. The recent solar storm in May and the Perseids meteor shower in August provided optimal conditions for the auroras to be visible to more Americans. Skygazers can track the auroras using NOAA’s aurora dashboard.
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