How to watch the northern lights in these 24 states tonight

HE NEEDS TO KNOW

• A strong geomagnetic storm could trigger auroras in up to 24 U.S. states overnight Monday, January 19 through early Tuesday, January 20, according to NOAA forecasts.

• An Earth-directed coronal mass ejection from an X1.9 solar flare is expected to impact Earth’s magnetic field, potentially triggering G3 to G4 storm conditions.

• The clear skies after the new moon could make this event particularly photogenic, with cameras capturing colors not visible to the naked eye

Look up, because the sky is about to put on a show!

If you’ve ever wanted to witness (or photograph) the Northern Lights without leaving the US, this could be your moment.

The aurora borealis (aurora borealis) is caused by geomagnetic storms, which occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating waves of bright light in the sky. However, their visibility depends on several factors, including intensity and location.

A wave of intense solar activity arrives just in time for January’s dark winter skies, setting the stage for auroras to push unusually far south across the country this evening, Jan. 19, and into the early hours of Tuesday, Jan. 20, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

This is not a subtle glow reserved for the Arctic Circle. This is a rare, high-impact space weather event that could bring auroras to mid-latitude regions just as the night sky reaches its darkest point.

According to NOAA forecasters, Earth is bracing for a strong to potentially severe geomagnetic storm as charged solar particles collide with our planet’s magnetic field.

The trigger? A massive X1.9-class solar flare erupted from the sun, followed by a fully Earth-directed halo coronal mass ejection (CME), of the type that significantly increases the chances of intense auroral activity.

This is one of those nights where space weather, the lunar cycle and the darkness of winter conspire to create something extraordinary.

Here’s exactly when to watch, where to watch and how to make the most of this stellar event.

When will the aurora borealis be visible?

Aurora borealis are expected Monday night, January 19, into early Tuesday, January 20, as Earth is affected by a powerful geomagnetic storm.

Forecasters are predicting strong G3 conditions, with the potential for the storm to intensify to G4 (severe) on NOAA’s five-level scale.

This activity is driven by a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME), a massive cloud of charged solar particles released after an X1.9-class solar flare erupted from the sun on Sunday, January 18.

Since the CME is aimed at Earth, it has a better chance of disrupting its magnetic field once it arrives. According to NOAA, “higher storm surge levels are possible as early as late in the day” on Monday, January 19.

Where will the northern lights be visible?

If conditions peak as forecast, auroras could be visible in up to 24 US states, extending from the Canadian border into mid-latitude regions.

The best viewing chances will be in northern areas, including Alaska, northern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Maine.

If the storm reaches G3 strength or greater, however, the watch could extend further south into Oregon, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire.

How to watch the northern lights?

Space weather is notoriously difficult to predict because it all depends on the speed and direction of the solar wind.

For real-time updates, be sure to monitor the 30-minute aurora forecast from NOAA, SpaceWeatherLive.com, or aurora tracking apps like Aurora Now, My Aurora Forecast, SpaceWeatherLive, or Glendale Aurora.

A key indicator is the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field. When the Bz turns south, solar energy can more easily penetrate the Earth’s magnetosphere. A southward sustained Bz of -5 nanotesle or stronger often signals an imminent aurora display.

Dark skies will be particularly favorable in this window as the activity follows a new moon, meaning little or no moonlight to interfere with visibility.

From the northern US states, any auroras that do occur may shine low along the northern horizon.

How to take photos of the Northern Lights?

The best part about the Northern Lights is that you can also create fun memories in the process. Your smartphone is more than enough too! All you have to do is go to settings, turn on Night mode and point the camera lens at the sky.

If you’re a more experienced spotter and happen to have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, grab a tripod and set your camera to manual mode. Don’t forget to warm up!

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