Latest news with #SpaceWeather
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northern lights may be visible in these 9 US States tonight
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Unsettled geomagnetic activity could bring northern lights to parts of the U.S. tonight (June 19–20). A coronal mass ejection (CME) released during a relatively small C5.5 solar flare on June 17 may deliver a glancing blow to Earth sometime tonight. This, combined with fast solar wind streaming from a large Earth-facing coronal hole, could fuel geomagnetic storm conditions overnight, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). Space weather forecasters at SWPC predict a chance of minor G1 geomagnetic storm conditions (Kp 5) between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. EDT (0600–0900 GMT) on June 20. (Kp is a measurement of geomagnetic activity, with an index that ranges from 0 to 9; higher Kp indicates stronger auroral activity.) You can keep up with the latest forecasts and geomagnetic storm warnings with our aurora forecast live blog. In the U.S., Alaska has the highest chance of seeing the northern lights tonight. If predicted G1 storms are reached, auroras could be visible down to Michigan and Maine, and perhaps even further according to NOAA. Below we have listed 9 states that appear either fully or in part above the possible view line for auroras tonight, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. They are ordered most likely to least likely based on their proximity to the center of the auroral oval and how much of each state is within or near the view like Connecticut, Rhode Island, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois are very close to the possible view line but would require stronger geomagnetic activity than forecast for visibility. That being said, geomagnetic storms have surprised us in the past, whereby forecasted G1 conditions jump to G2 or even G3. So it's worth keeping your eyes on the skies and those aurora alerts switched on. Remember, auroras can be fickle. Sometimes they can appear much farther south than predicted, and other times they barely show up at all. There are many conditions that have to align for the perfect show. It is possible that many more states could witness auroras tonight, or perhaps far fewer will. Alaska Montana North Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin Michigan (especially the Upper Peninsula) Maine Vermont New Hampshire If you live in one of the 9 states forecasted to have a chance of seeing the northern lights tonight, head to a north-facing vantage point as far away from light pollution as possible! The best time to look for auroras will be about 1 a.m. local time, as our window of darkness for observing the northern lights shrinks during summer months. Use your mobile phone to scan the skies, as the camera is great at picking up faint auroras before your eyes spot them. This can help you pinpoint where in the sky you should be focusing your attention. But remember to keep an eye out elsewhere too as auroras can pop up in front, behind or even above you! Happy aurora hunting. If you want to make sure you're all clued up on when to look for auroras, download a space weather app that provides forecasts based on your location. One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android. However, any similar app should work well. I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
NASA warns of potential blackouts amid solar flare
The eruption unleashed a burst of ionizing radiation, magnetic energy and heat capable of interfering with technology on Earth. Dr Tamitha Skov, an independent space weather physicist, said the flare's impact was strongest in the western hemisphere, affecting areas including the US West Coast, Alaska , eastern Russia , the Asia-Pacific region and potentially New Zealand . Almost immediately, the flare triggered a shortwave radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean, with ham radio operators in Hawaii reporting sudden signal loss. NASA and other space weather agencies are now closely monitoring sunspot region 4114, the source of the flare. Sunspots are cooler than other parts of the surface. Sunsport 4114 is expected to remain active in the coming days, and scientists warn that another major flare could erupt as soon as today. 'Another flare may be in the offing today. Sunspot 4114 is large and unstable, with a 'delta-class' magnetic field that harbors energy for strong explosions,' the team at shared. A delta-class magnetic field is like a pressure cooker of magnetic energy on the sun, and it is often a warning sign that a big solar flare is to come. Officials said in a Wednesday update that the solar flare likely came with a huge burst of charged solar particles, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), which will take about 15 to 72 hours to reach Earth. A G1 geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for Friday, which is the least powerful on the scale of five. However, it has the potential to cause minor fluctuations in power grids, slight impacts on satellite operations and make the aurora borealis visible at high latitudes. Results showed power grids failed, blackouts were triggered and communication broke down across the US. The exercise ran four simulations of geomagnetic storms of different severities. One scenario included a 'solar superstorm', strong enough to cause an 'internet apocalypse,' resulting in power grid disruptions across the entire US, with the eastern seaboard experiencing blackouts, which lasted for weeks. Not only were power grids impacted, but railways and pipelines were also knocked offline, causing mass disruptions of travel and dramatic price increases of gas. Scientists are now calling for a whole-of-government planning approach, arguing it will be critical for protecting America from cosmic disaster. That would include deploying more satellites to monitor space weather, enhancing real-time data collection to improve forecasting models and providing earlier warnings.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
US hit by blackouts as sun releases colossal burst of radiation... and experts warn more is to come
A powerful solar flare erupted from the sun on Tuesday, prompting warnings from NASA about potential blackouts and communication disruptions. The solar flare, classified as an X1.2 flare, one of the most severe types, exploded from the sun's Earth-facing side at around 6pm ET. 'X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about their strength,' NASA shared in a release. The eruption unleashed a burst of ionizing radiation, magnetic energy and heat capable of interfering with technology on Earth. Dr Tamitha Skov, an independent space weather physicist, said the flare's impact was strongest in the western hemisphere, affecting areas including the US West Coast, Alaska, eastern Russia, the Asia-Pacific region and potentially New Zealand. Almost immediately, the flare triggered a shortwave radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean, with ham radio operators in Hawaii reporting sudden signal loss. NASA and other space weather agencies are now closely monitoring sunspot region 4114, the source of the flare. Sunspots are cooler than other parts of the surface. Sunsport 4114 is expected to remain active in the coming days, and scientists warn that another major flare could erupt as soon as today. 'Another flare may be in the offing today. Sunspot 4114 is large and unstable, with a 'delta-class' magnetic field that harbors energy for strong explosions,' the team at shared. A delta-class magnetic field is like a pressure cooker of magnetic energy on the sun, and it is often a warning sign that a big solar flare is to come. Officials said in a Wednesday update that the solar flare likely came with a huge burst of charged solar particles, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), which will take about 15 to 72 hours to reach Earth. A G1 geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for Friday, which is the least powerful on the scale of five. However, it has the potential to cause minor fluctuations in power grids, slight impacts on satellite operations and make the aurora borealis visible at high latitudes. In May, experts revealed they conducted an extreme space weather scenario and found Earth may not survive. They conducted a 'solar storm emergency drill', simulating what would happen if a major geomagnetic storm hit our planet. Results showed power grids failed, blackouts were triggered and communication broke down across the US. Dr Tamitha Skov, an independent space weather physicist, said the flare's impact was strongest in the western hemisphere, affecting areas including the US West Coast, Alaska, eastern Russia, the Asia-Pacific region and potentially New Zealand The exercise ran four simulations of geomagnetic storms of different severities. One scenario included a 'solar superstorm', strong enough to cause an 'internet apocalypse,' resulting in power grid disruptions across the entire US, with the eastern seaboard experiencing blackouts, which lasted for weeks. Not only were power grids impacted, but railways and pipelines were also knocked offline, causing mass disruptions of travel and dramatic price increases of gas. Scientists are now calling for a whole-of-government planning approach, arguing it will be critical for protecting America from cosmic disaster. That would include deploying more satellites to monitor space weather, enhancing real-time data collection to improve forecasting models and providing earlier warnings.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northern lights and glowing noctilucent clouds collide in a rare night sky show over Alberta (photo)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Nature served up a stunning double feature in the skies over Alberta, Canada, on June 9. Aurora chaser and photographer Harlan Thomas (@TheAuroraGuy) was about 18.5 miles (30 kilometers) north of Calgary along a rural stretch he calls "The Twisted Pond Road" when the surprise display of both the northern lights and noctilucent clouds (NLCs) took to the sky. "It was quite the surprise to see the aurora, as there was really no data to justify the geomagnetic conditions," Thomas told in an email. "It was even more surprising to see the NLCs, as they had to overcome wildfire smoke from the Northwest and a waxing gibbous moon that was 84% full." NLCs are Earth's highest clouds, appearing as thin wispy blue or silver streaks about 47 to 53 miles (76 to 85 km) above the planet's surface. They form in summer when water vapor drifts into the mesosphere and crystallizes around meteoric dust. Their delicate glow is often visible from high latitudes shortly after sunset or before sunrise. "There's nothing quite like seeing the aurora borealis and noctilucent clouds at the same time," Thomas told "It's the perfect combination." Thomas captured the scene using a Nikon D810 camera with a 50mm lens, shooting 1/30-second exposures at ISO 3200 with one-second intervals to create both a timelapse and a still image. Surprisingly, this wasn't the first time Thomas had witnessed such a spectacle. In 2020, he not only captured NLCs and aurora but also a comet! "On July 14, 2020, at the height of Covid, I captured the NLC's, Neowise [comet] and the aurora," Thomas told Talk about being in the right place at the right time! The NLC season typically lasts through August, so skywatchers in northern latitudes may yet catch their own glimpse of this dazzling duo. Want to brush up on your astrophotography skills? Our guide to astrophotography for beginners covers everything from equipment to shooting modes and more. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture your next skywatching sight. Editor's Note: If you snap a stunning astrophoto and would like to share it with readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Forecast: ‘Strong' Storm Could See Aurora In 18 U.S. States This Weekend
Photographic aurora are possible in the U.S. this weekend. The Northern Lights may be visible on camera — and possibly to the naked eye — in the U.S. as soon as it gets dark on Saturday, June 14, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, with forecasts including a "strong" geomagnetic storm that could be visible from 18 U.S. states. Solar activity is currently at a 23-year high due to the current solar maximum period. The latest forecast has a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm on June 14. However, NOAA states that there's a slight chance for a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm — and that's why this forecast is worth knowing about. 'Aurora has been seen as low as Illinois and Oregon (typically 50° geomagnetic latitude),' according to NOAA, though its aurora view line has the phenomenon potentially visible from parts of 18 states. Parts of U.S. states that could potentially see aurora, according to NOAA, include Washington, northern Oregon, northern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, northern Iowa, Wisconsin, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Check NOAA's 30-minute forecast or use the Glendale App for up-to-the-minute forecasts. All forecasts for the Northern Lights must now be viewed with suspicion. Late June is not traditionally considered the aurora-viewing season in the Northern Hemisphere, which is typically thought to be from September to March. That's because there are now so few hours of darkness, with no astronomical darkness around the U.S.-Canada border and farther north. Although aurora can occasionally be seen in deep twilight, the display needs to be strong and the timing of outbursts fortunate. Breathless forecasts have persisted through April, May, and June, partly due to inexperienced reporters and partly because the current solar maximum is experiencing repeated heightened activity from the sun. It's best to think of the Northern Lights in June as a photographic opportunity. Although you may see some structure with the naked eye, having a mirrorless or DSLR camera is the way to go — though newer models of flagship smartphones also do an excellent job of capturing aurora. If your smartphone has a 'Night Mode' feature, that should be good enough to get a more than impressive souvenir shot of the aurora. It likely means a long exposure of between five and 10 seconds, which will look much better if you do three things: The Northern Lights are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. Although the magnetic field deflects much of it, some charged particles accelerate along the magnetic field lines toward the polar regions, where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, exciting them and causing them to release energy as light. The forecast takes into account the effect of a coronal mass ejection — a burst of charged particles from the sun traveling through space and striking Earth's magnetosphere — on June 8. A coronal hole in the sun is also causing a high-speed, turbulent solar wind. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
