Prepare to be dazzled! The northern US could be treated to a glimpse of the mesmerizing Northern Lights this weekend, thanks to solar storms. The sun, currently at the peak of its 11-year cycle, has been experiencing increased activity, leading to more frequent auroras. This week, the sun unleashed two powerful flares, including one on Thursday that was the strongest since 2017. While faint auroras might be visible as far south as South Dakota, Iowa, and New York, the intensity of the light show could still fluctuate over the weekend.
Experts at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) acknowledge that there’s still some uncertainty about how strong the display will be. Although the storms this week haven’t been as intense as the ones that produced spectacular auroras across the Northern Hemisphere in May, they still have the potential to create a captivating show.
But what exactly are these Northern Lights, and why are they so captivating?
The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are a natural light display that occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere. These collisions create a mesmerizing dance of colors in the sky, often described as a vibrant curtain of light. The colors of the auroras depend on the type of gas involved and the altitude of the interaction.
Green, the most common color, appears when particles collide with oxygen at lower altitudes (about 60 to 150 miles). Red, on the other hand, occurs at higher altitudes (above 150 miles) with oxygen. Blue and purple result from interactions with nitrogen.
So, if you find yourself in the northern US this weekend, keep your eyes peeled for the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights. It’s a reminder of the dynamic and captivating nature of our universe. Who knows? You might just witness a truly unforgettable celestial spectacle.
