Civilians in various U.S. states had a chance to witness the Northern Lights at the beginning of this month (November 2024), and might have another opportunity to do so.
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) recently shared information concerning the potential aurora borealis displays over North America on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Their data indicates the view line showing the southernmost locations where the aurora might be visible on the northern horizon, and the predicted intensity of the light spectacle.
To calculate the projection, the SWPC uses the OVATION model, which stands for “Oval Variation, Assessment, Tracking, Intensity, and Online Nowcasting.” This empirical model indicates the “intensity of the aurora.”
According to the SWPC, “The model uses maximum forecast geomagnetic activity (Kp) between 6pm and 6am US Central Time [sic]” for tonight and tomorrow evening (November 28 and 29).
The organization issued a geomagnetic storm watch for both days on November 26, due to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) “associated with a filament eruption that took off the Sun late on” November 25.
Two images of a map, which are subject to continuous updates, display where the aurora is most likely to occur. According to the map’s view line, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine are the states likely to witness the aurora.
The northern regions of Idaho, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York are within the aurora view line as well. In the images, the aurora’s brightness and location are typically indicated by a “green oval centered on Earth’s magnetic pole.” When the Northern Lights are expected to increase in intensity, the green oval changes to red.
Although the aurora is not visible during daylight hours, the light spectacle can be observed just before sunrise or just after sunset. The SWPC also clarifies that the Northern Lights “can be observed from as much as 1000 [sic] km away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right.”
In addition to providing data, the SWPC shared tips for viewing. Regarding the matter of location, the weather prediction center suggests that people head toward the magnetic poles.
Currently located in the islands of northeast Canada approximately 400 km (250 miles) from the geographic pole is the north magnetic pole.
Given that this is the case, the SWPC suggests finding a place “where you can see to the north (or south if you are in the southern hemisphere).”
Additionally, if individuals can find the right unobstructed vantage point, like on top of a hill in the northern hemisphere, they will be able to see the aurora “when it is 1000 [sic] km (600 miles) further north.”
Clear aurora displays can also be viewed by people who are in “the right place under the aurora” even if the geomagnetic activity is as low as Kp 3 or 4.
Another viewing tip posed by the SWPC is for people to go to viewing locations at night and move away from city lights because the full moon will already diminish the apparent brightness of the aurora, but not its actual brightness.
The SWPC also urges civilians to remember that “the high latitudes where aurora occur are also latitudes where it doesn’t get dark in the summer.”
This means that people who seek to combine plans for a summer vacation with traveling to the Arctic to watch the aurora will not be successful, as the spectacle will only be visible when it’s dark.
Last, but certainly not least, the SWPC advises on the exact best times to witness the Northern Lights. “Best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10 PM and 2 AM local time [sic]). These hours of active aurora expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases,” explains the SWPC.
However, they also note that while aurora may be present in the evening and morning, it is typically not as active and thus, less visually appealing. Regarding the best seasons to witness the Northern Lights, the weather center says the spring and fall equinoxes are ideal.
The SWPC states that this is so “due to subtleties in the way the solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere,” which prompts “a tendency towards larger geomagnetic storms, and thus better auroras, to occur near the equinoxes.”
Civilians should also note that the number of dark hours near the spring and fall equinoxes decreases and/or increases rapidly, which should be kept in mind when making travel plans to see the Northern Lights.
The recent predictions made by the SWPC come weeks after they shared information concerning the previous aurora display that occurred on November 8 and 9.
Specific states that were likely to witness the aurora on the northern horizon at that time included Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota.
Additional locations included Wisconsin, Michigan (more prominent in the Upper Peninsula), and Maine, especially in the state’s most northern region.