Northern lights could be visible for parts of the country on Monday night

The northern lights could be visible across parts of the country tonight. A coronal mass ejection (CME) will likely arrive at Earth tonight, leading to elevated geomagnetic activity.

Geomagnetic storms are responsible for the visual display of the northern lights, or aurora borealis.

A CME is an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields. There is a Geomagnetic Storm Watch in effect tonight, with a G4 predicted. According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, watches at this level are very rare.

Aurora Borealis

The sun is currently in an upswing of its 11-year solar cycle. Scientists notice more sunspots as they migrate toward the equator of the sun, and when their magnetic fields tangle, solar storms erupt.

Earth’s magnetic field acts as a buffer to keep particles and energy ejected from the sun at bay. However, if the solar storm is strong enough, those particles can penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere, giving off light, creating the auroras we see.

With such intense CMEs expected to arrive on Earth, the severe storm might make the northern lights visible in the northern U.S., with the best chance of viewing at higher latitudes. 

Geomagnetic storms

The energy from a solar storm is categorized by G levels. Tonight’s aurora forecast is a G4.

G1 would show a minor storm, G2 a moderate storm, G3 a strong storm, G4 a severe storm and G5 would mean an extreme storm.

While these storms make the northern lights brighter and more visible in lower latitudes, the energy entering our atmosphere can cause disruptions to power grids, spacecraft operations and migratory animals.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) uses a planetary k index, which goes from 0 to 9, to predict the visibility of the northern lights around the world. The higher the Kp values, the further south people can view the aurora.

A Kp value of 8 is forecast for Monday night. 

How to see and capture the auroras

For the latest northern lights forecasts, check NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.

Make your best effort to get away from city lights and find somewhere dark. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.

Many areas in northern latitudes should be able to see the northern lights with the naked eye. If you’re farther south, your smartphone cameras may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Long-exposure is your best bet to reveal all the colors in the night sky.

When taking the photo, turn on “night mode” and place your phone on a steady surface. The longer the exposure, the better the photo will turn out!

If you’ve taken any pictures of the northern lights, you can share your photos here.

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