Look out for the Northern Lights to put on a dazzling show this week

The sun is in a time of high activity, and that’s great news for fans of the Northern Lights, a radiant show that paints the sky with wavy streaks of green, red and purple. The sun just emitted a large solar flare that could cause a beautiful aurora event that could reach as far north as the US.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued geomagnetic storm watches for October 3-October. 5 after the sun’s spicy X7.1 flare on October 1. An X-class flare is the most intense. NASA estimates the strongest known eruption was an X45 that occurred in 2003. “Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy,” NASA said in a statement. “Flares and solar eruptions can affect radio communications, power grids and navigation signals, posing risks to spacecraft and astronauts.” They can also cause spectacular light shows.

Where can I see the aurora?

The SWPC makes a bid Aurora predictions with daily maps of expected activities. For example, the October 3 map shows a high chance of aurora in Alaska and Canada, as shown by red areas. The northern states – including Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Upper Michigan – are in a green area that indicates a lower chance of auroras. It’s still worth seeing if you live in those areas and have clear skies.

The coming geomagnetic storm could extend the aurora viewing area southward, especially on October 4. “The aurora may become visible over many of the northern states and part of the lower Midwest into Oregon,” said the Space Weather Prediction Center on X. If you go outside and aren’t sure if you see an aurora, try taking a photo. Your phone may be able to see it better than you can.

Tips for viewing Aurora

Auroras can be fickle. Location is an important factor. The closer you can get to the heart of it, the better. That’s why places like Alaska, Iceland and the northern parts of Canada are hotspots for aurora viewing. Sometimes strong auroras are visible much further south than normal. Get away from the light pollution of cities. Look north after dark for the best chance of catching a glimpse. NOAA recommends aiming for a few hours either side of midnight. This is why it can be difficult to catch the aurora borealis.

If you live in the northern US and don’t normally get to see the Northern Lights, the next few days could be a chance to see the phenomenon without having to travel. Contact the SWPC for the daily forecast.

Even if you miss the aurora, there’s still plenty happening in the night sky this month. Check out our sky viewing guide for October 2024.