SCIENCE
The best place to see the Northern Lights Saturday night: US times and where to observe the aurora borealis
Catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is a mesmerising sight with the best chance coming tonight due to a rare storm from the sun.
A major geomagnetic storm is currently hitting the United States, which is set to produce one of the great wonders of the sky once again on Saturday (11 May). Experts, however, believe it is likely to be a little less impressive second time around after Friday’s spectacular show.
The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are created when highly charged particles from the Sun are funneled by the Earth’s magnetic field and enter the atmosphere at high speed. As these particles interact with the upper atmosphere at altitudes of 60 to more than 250 miles, they ionize the atmosphere, resulting in a colorful display of light across the sky.
The lights can appear in various colors, including vibrant greens and purples. The Northern Lights are most commonly seen in the polar regions with the best viewing anywhere with a magnetic latitude above 55º and low light pollution. You can find your magnetic latitude either at NOAA or World Data Center for Geomagnetism.
How and where can I see the Northern Lights?
To see them the sky needs to be dark and clear of any clouds.
The best places to see the Northern Lights in North America on Saturday night will be across the Ohio River Valley through the Midwest and into the Pacific Northwest.
However, auroras could be visible as far south as Alabama, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The optimal viewing times are typically between 10 PM and 2 AM local time.
States including Oregon, Nebraska, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York could have sightings, although it will, as ever, depend on the weather.
How can I know when the Northern Lights will appear?
There is no 100% guarantee of spotting the Northern Lights, just hope that you are in the right place at the right time. There are forecasts available with the Kp Index is generally considered the most accurate. The forecast corresponds to the planetary magnetic index on a scale of one to nine, with one being very low activity and nine very high.
The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska has a website, which allows you to view predicted activity in all auroral regions. You can also sign up for Northern Lights forecast email alerts that tell you when activity rises above four to five on the Kp scale.