Massachusetts residents were treated to a stunning display of aurora lights on Thursday night, as a rare “severe” geomagnetic storm hit the skies. The storm was caused by a fast coronal mass ejection from the sun, which collided with Earth’s atmosphere. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center reported that Thursday’s storm was categorized as a G4, or “severe,” and another G4 storm is expected for Friday.
The coronal mass ejection left a sunspot on Tuesday before heading towards Earth, according to forecasters. This resulted in the vibrant display of northern lights on Thursday, which could potentially be visible in New England again on Friday. The National Weather Service has predicted clear weather conditions for Friday night, making it ideal for stargazing.
The aurora can be seen in hues of green, pink, and purple when coronal mass ejections collide with Earth’s atmosphere and electrons fall to lower states of energy, creating a mesmerizing light show in the sky. NOAA stated that the brightness and location of the aurora are typically shown as a green oval centered on Earth’s magnetic pole, which can turn red when the aurora is more intense.
Residents of New England should keep an eye out for the northern lights on Friday night, as they could be visible from just after sunset to just before sunrise. The aurora does not need to be directly overhead to be seen, and can be observed from up to 1,000 km away when conditions are right.
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