Northern Lights Illuminate the Sky Across 22 States Tonight
A powerful geomagnetic storm caused by a recent sunburst is set to create a spectacular celestial light show tonight.
Solar Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection
On November 5, an M7.4 solar flare erupted from the sun, releasing a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) — a massive expulsion of plasma and magnetic fields traveling between 2.5 and 3.1 million miles per hour. This event, reported by Space.com, triggers the northern lights (aurora borealis) and southern lights (aurora australis).
Expected Arrival and Impact
The CME is expected to reach Earth later on November 6 or early November 7, potentially causing a strong G3 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.
If the CME arrives as predicted, it may intensify auroras far from the poles, reaching the US Midwest and providing prime viewing opportunities.
Expert Commentary
“A whole train of big #solarstorms are on their way, along with some smaller storms hitting now, and some fast solar wind!” said space weather physicist Tamitha Skov on X.
“It is an #aurora photographer’s dream starting now and lasting at least through the weekend.”
Who Will See the Show?
- Stargazers in New York
- Viewers across 22 states including the Midwest
This rare geomagnetic event offers many a chance to witness the vibrant cosmic auroras illuminating the night sky.
Author’s summary: A fast-moving solar flare has launched a geomagnetic storm possibly lighting up the northern skies across 22 US states, promising a breathtaking aurora display through the weekend.