Skygazers across Canada and the U.S. were treated to an incredible display of the northern lights on Tuesday night.
The lights, also known as the aurora borealis, were seen as far south as New Mexico and Texas.
Over the past few days, the sun has experienced several powerful solar flares. They were then followed by coronal mass ejections (CME), explosions of fast-moving particles that travel along the solar wind.
A pair of Earth-directed CMEs reached Earth on Tuesday night. However, the Space Weather Prediction Center (SPWC) is forecasting that the geomagnetic storm could continue Wednesday night and possibly into Thursday, though perhaps not as strong.
The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread.
Colourful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say more auroras are still to come.
The science behind the northern lights
Aurora displays, known as the northern and southern lights, are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.
Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into Canada, the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major facelift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.
Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.
The sun’s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won’t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Solar storms can bring more than colourful lights to Earth. When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid.
Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control radio and satellites in orbit. Severe storms are capable of scrambling other radio and GPS communications.
In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far south as Hawaii and set telegraph lines on fire in a rare event. And a 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic U.S. sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.
In March 1989, a severe solar storm knocked out power across parts of Quebec.
Space weather experts aren’t able to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they alert relevant parties to prepare in the days before a solar outburst hits Earth.
Northern lights forecasts can be found on the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.
Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast, because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.
Taking a photo with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
