Northern Lights Visible Across 22 States Tonight
A recent powerful solar event has set the stage for a spectacular aurora display across much of the United States. Stargazers in New York and several other states may witness vibrant northern lights tonight due to an intense geomagnetic storm.
Solar Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection
On November 5, a strong M7.4 solar flare erupted from the sun, releasing a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). This CME, consisting of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun's outer layer, was traveling at speeds between 2.5 and 3.1 million miles per hour.
Predicted Arrival and Impact
The CME is expected to reach Earth between late November 6 and early November 7, potentially triggering a G3-level geomagnetic storm, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
“Watches have been issued for these times with moderate to high confidence in timing, and moderate confidence in magnitude,” NOAA writes.
Aurora Sightings and Enthusiast Reactions
If the CME arrives as forecasted, it may intensify the auroras from the polar regions down into the US Midwest, providing perfect conditions for aurora viewers.
“A whole train of big #solarstorms are on their way, along with some smaller storms hitting now, and some fast solar wind! It is an #aurora photographer’s dream starting now and lasting at least through the weekend,” said space weather physicist Tamitha Skov on X.
Summary
The intense solar activity is expected to create vivid aurora displays visible across 22 states, making it an exceptional event for sky watchers.
Author’s note: This rare geomagnetic storm offers a unique chance to witness the northern lights far beyond their usual range, delighting astronomers and photographers alike.