Aurora Borealis Potential Sightings in Certain States This Tuesday Night
The solar maximum, a period of increased solar activity occurring every 11 years, is currently underway and is set to persist into early 2026. This means that the northern lights, also known as auroras, will continue to be more visible farther south than usual.
During this period, the sun experiences an increase in solar events such as coronal mass ejections and solar flares. These events release a shower of electrons that intersect with molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere. This interaction causes the molecules to become 'excited' before releasing energy in the form of swirling lights.
Auroral forecasts have predicted a lesser, yet still possible chance of northern light visibility for parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and Maine in the coming days. However, the northern lights have the highest likelihood of visibility across northern Canada and Alaska.
The best time to view the northern lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. Photography experts recommend using a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less, and setting the focus to the furthest possible setting. For those using a smartphone, it's best to enable night mode and disable flash. Using a tripod also helps stabilize images.
NOAA forecasts a Kp index of four for Tuesday night, suggesting the northern lights may be visible as far south as southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Calmer auroral activity is expected on Wednesday and late Thursday, with a maximum Kp index of around three forecast for either day. On Thursday evening, northern lights will be visible especially in areas with dark skies and clear northern horizons, including northern parts of Germany like Helgoland, Pellworm, Spiekeroog, and Westhavelland, as well as other regions with low light pollution.
It's important to note that the solar activity is unlikely to disrupt Earth's geomagnetic field through the night. The northern lights can be seen throughout the year, not just in winter. NOAA recommends traveling to a high, north-facing vantage point away from light pollution to increase your chances of witnessing this natural phenomenon.
As the solar maximum continues, we can look forward to more opportunities to witness the mesmerising spectacle of the northern lights in the coming months.
Read also:
- Amidst India's escalating climate crisis, transgender individuals continue to persevere
- Contentious Discussion Surrounding the Movie Release of "Planet of the Humans"
- Germany's three-month tenure under Merz's administration feels significantly extended
- Norway set to allocate proceeds from sales of tickets for a soccer match against Israel to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
