Tonight is the best chance to see the Northern Lights since May.. What are they? And where can you see them?

Arab Weather - The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are stunning light displays that have dazzled people for thousands of years. Despite their beauty, this phenomenon is actually the result of a violent process that occurs when energetic charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth's upper atmosphere at speeds of up to 72 million kilometers per hour.

The Earth's magnetic field protects us from these particles by redirecting them toward the poles, which generates the northern lights in the northern hemisphere, or the southern lights in the southern hemisphere.

How are the northern lights created?

This phenomenon occurs when the Sun expels charged particles from its upper atmosphere, known as the solar wind. When the solar wind hits the Earth's upper atmosphere, it starts the process of generating the aurora. These particles interact with the Earth's atmosphere and create a brightly colored glow that can be seen in the night sky.

• Aurora Borealis Colors and Their Causes

The colors of the aurora vary depending on the chemical composition of the atmosphere. For example, red is caused by nitrogen molecules, while green is caused by the reaction of oxygen molecules. This process is similar to what gives each type of atom or molecule a unique fingerprint, emitting different colors.

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What do the colors of the Aurora Borealis indicate?

• Movement and shape of the aurora borealis

The shape and movement of the aurora depends on several factors, including changes in the solar wind and interactions in Earth's atmosphere, as well as the motion of the planet and particles in space. These movements can provide new insights into space physics and Earth's magnetic field.

Last night from #Iceland , looks like another good two nights to come. #NorthernLights #Aurora pic.twitter.com/ZaV7LXkT6X

— Ex-Wakey Gardener (@WakefldGardener) October 5, 2024

What does the aurora reveal about the atmosphere?

The aurora provides information about the density of Earth's upper atmosphere, the speed of electrical currents in it, and the strength of Earth's magnetic field. This data helps scientists understand how to protect Earth from the hazards of space weather, which includes the effects of charged particles coming from the Sun.

• Aurora on other planets

The aurora is not unique to Earth; it also appears on other planets that have similar magnetic fields and atmospheres. The characteristics of this phenomenon vary from planet to planet depending on the composition of the planets and the strength of the magnetic field.

• Best time to see the northern lights

The Northern Lights occur frequently, but their intensity and appearance are influenced by solar activity, which follows an 11-year cycle. We are now approaching the peak of this cycle, which is expected to occur between 2024 and 2025, meaning this will be the best time to see the aurora borealis at its strongest.

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• How do you plan to see the northern lights?

Seeing the Northern Lights is a dream for many astronomy enthusiasts and travelers. Although the lights appear frequently, observing them requires being in the right place at the right time. Areas near the North Pole, such as Norway, Canada, and Iceland, are some of the best locations to see the Northern Lights.

• Northern Lights: A Dream for Astronomy Enthusiasts and Travelers

Seeing the Northern Lights firsthand is a dream for every astronomy enthusiast and traveler. Fortunately, this amazing phenomenon occurs frequently, but observing it requires being in the right place at the right time.

Photographer Chad Blakely, owner of Lights Over Lapland, which organizes tours to see the northern lights, says:

“The Northern Lights are visible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.” But that doesn’t mean they’re easy to spot, you have to be in the right locations and at the right times to see them.

Best Places to See the Northern Lights

The best locations to see the Northern Lights are within the “Aurora Zone,” an area within a 2,500-kilometre radius of the North Pole, according to the Tromsø Geophysical Observatory in Norway. Here, the aurora occurs most frequently, although during times of strong solar storms, the aurora can appear in locations further south.

If you’re planning a trip to see the northern lights, Blakely recommends staying away from city lights for the best possible view. Some of the best locations with strong infrastructure for seeing the northern lights include:

1. Fairbanks, Alaska
2. Yellowknife in Canada
3. Tromso in Norway
4. Abisko National Park in Sweden
5. Rovaniemi in Finland
6. And almost anywhere in Iceland

Best time to see the aurora borealis

The best time of year to see the northern lights is between September and April, when the sky is dark enough to see the aurora clearly. The far northern areas experience the midnight sun during the summer, which prevents the aurora from being seen. According to the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, most aurora activity occurs between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

The Timelapse from the substorm last night.

Need to remember to set up both cameras, I think I can see a brief crown in this video. #colorado #NorthernLights #solarstorm #aurora #cowx @TamithaSkov @SpaceWxRina @SNHWx @TweetAurora pic.twitter.com/XwJYzuveOS

- Sarah Marie (@sarahmarie787) September 18, 2024

Northern Lights Aurora Forecast

It is important to follow aurora forecasts to determine the best times to observe them. You can rely on forecasts provided by the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which provide accurate three-day and 30-minute forecasts.

A massive solar flare, the largest since 2017, was recently spotted erupting from the surface of the sun, raising the possibility of seeing the northern lights in certain areas.

Solar flares are massive explosions of electromagnetic radiation that travel from the Sun at the speed of light and reach Earth in about eight minutes. These flares typically affect some radio communications and satellites, but for most people, the effects won't be directly noticeable.

According to Christa Hammond, space weather manager at the Met Office, there is a chance the CME could reach Earth late Friday or early Saturday. She said:

This may cause the aurora to appear in areas such as:

1. Scotland
2. Northern Ireland
3. and parts of northern england

Hammond adds that there is an additional chance of seeing the aurora in more southerly areas such as central England, although weather conditions may hinder viewing due to clouds and rain.

In the United States, the aurora can be seen in northern states, from the Midwest to Oregon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

Tonight will be our best chance to potentially see the Northern Lights since May #northernlights pic.twitter.com/0VE8CcbQfn

— Jill Gilardi (@jillgilardi) October 5, 2024

Biggest solar flare in years

The newly observed solar flare was classified as an X9, NASA's strongest classification for solar flares. Solar flares come in categories starting with B (the smallest), followed by C, M, and X. Flares within each category are ranked in strength from 1 to 9, making the X9 flare the strongest ever observed.

Rare opportunity to see the aurora

For those interested in observing the northern lights, this period is a rare opportunity, especially with the expectations of increased solar storm activity.

The effect of moonlight on the visibility of twilight

Some people think that bright moonlight can affect the visibility of the aurora, but Blackley advises not to worry about it. If the aurora is strong enough, the moonlight will not obstruct the view and may even add to the beauty of the scene by illuminating the surrounding landscape.

Here is an animation of the last 24 hours of #NorthernLights forecasts for North America.
Images from NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center #Space #Aurora #SWPC #NOAA pic.twitter.com/EmquT1l5bg

— Grand Forks, ND Sky Color (@gfndskycolor) October 5, 2024

Southern and Northern Lights

The aurora borealis is not limited to the Northern Hemisphere; there is also the southern lights that occur in the Southern Hemisphere. Although they are physically similar phenomena, their timing and location can differ due to interactions between the Sun's magnetic field and the Earth's.

Besides the aurora, there is a similar phenomenon known as STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement). This phenomenon appears as a narrow purple arc, accompanied by a slowly moving "green fence". This phenomenon can be seen at lower latitudes than the aurora.

A study published in 2019 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters found that STEVE occurs as a result of two mechanisms: one causes the purple streaks, while the other is similar to the process of aurora formation.

The Northern Lights are one of nature's greatest wonders, combining breathtaking beauty with dramatic physical phenomena that occur in space. With the peak of solar activity approaching, the coming years will be a golden opportunity to witness this magnificent phenomenon.

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What is the Aurora phenomenon?

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Sources:

bbc.com

space.com