How to Watch the Northern Lights Again this Week
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NEED TO KNOW
- The northern lights will light up the night sky on Friday, Sept. 5, and all throughout the weekend, with similar activity forecasted for Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7.
- The aurora borealis is a result of solar flares or coronal mass ejections interacting with Earth’s magnetic field, creating colorful displays in the sky
- This weekend’s forecast follows a period of geomagnetic storms, with a Kp index of five for Friday evening.
The sky has a way of knowing when to steal the show, and tonight is no exception!
After a stretch of geomagnetic storms, the dazzling auroras are back for a third time this week, lighting up the heavens for sky watchers in the U.S., hoping to witness their enchanting display.
Geomagnetic storms are a result of variations in the solar wind, producing major changes in the currents, plasmas and fields in Earth’s magnetosphere, as noted by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Northern lights are a result of these geomagnetic storms when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Their visibility depends on several factors, including intensity and location.
NOAA’s forecasters predict the chances of auroral activity this evening, Sept. 5, and over the weekend on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7 — with a Kp index of four — as a result of Monday’s severe geomagnetic storms.
The aurora view line highlights the southern-most locations from which skywatchers are most likely to see the aurora on the northern horizon, per NOAA’s three-day outlook.
Read on for more on how to watch the northern lights this weekend.
When will the northern lights be visible?
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The vibrant auroras continue!
With a Kp index of five — at a scale between zero and nine — auroral activity is expected Friday evening, Sept. 5, all throughout the weekend, as similar activity is forecasted for Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7, per NOAA.
Where will the northern lights be visible?
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As forecasted by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, over a dozen U.S. states will have a chance to witness the northern lights tonight, Sept. 5, and all throughout the weekend.
As a result of geomagnetic storms, the stellar event will likely be visible across parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.
How to watch the northern lights?
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If you don’t have telescopes or binoculars handy, not to worry.
Experiencing the magic of the aurora borealis does not require special equipment. In the right weather conditions, the northern lights are visible to the naked eye, adorning the skies in vibrant, colorful hues for anyone who takes time to simply look up.
Tip: Make sure you’re as far away from the city as possible. Light pollution and weather conditions matter more than you realize, so head out on a night with clear skies if you’re looking for a good view.
How to take photos of the northern lights?
Snapping photos of the aurora borealis doesn’t require fancy gear or pro-level photography skills. As a matter of fact, your smartphone device is more than enough to make memories of this stellar event.
All you have to do is go to settings, turn on Night Mode and point your camera lens towards the sky.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
