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A select group of US states will have a chance to see the aurora borealis this week as geomagnetic activity increases on Saturday — a day before the expected peak of the Perseid meteor shower, giving some observers the chance to see several meteors in one session.
The lights are best viewed between 10pm and 2am (Photo: Matthew Lewis Rowland/Getty) … [+]
Key Facts
The Northern Lights are expected to appear Saturday night at a Kp index of 5, meaning the lights are expected to become brighter and provide a visual viewing experience for those “in the right place,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said over the weekend that Space weather forecast Solar material erupting from some very active sunspots is expected to become visible early Saturday morning and Sunday night.
Observers will be able to see the Northern Lights alongside the Perseid meteor shower – a very active meteor event expected to peak between Sunday night and Monday morning.
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Where will the lights be visible tonight?
The aurora forecast for Saturday night and Sunday indicates that northern parts of states such as Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Maine have a slight chance of seeing the lights (see chart below).
Viewing areas on Saturday.
How do you see the lights?
The lights are typically most active between 10pm and 2am and can be best seen in areas with little or no cloud cover and minimal light pollution.
How do you photograph lights?
Smartphones must be turned on night mode to change the exposure time, which may show movement of lights depending on how long the time is set, according to Visit Iceland.
tangent
According to “Anchorage, Alaska, has a good chance of seeing the lights on both nights.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationwhich indicates that the aurora does not need to be directly overhead for observers and can be seen from up to 621 miles away if the lights are bright and conditions are ideal.
Main background
2024 has been a strong year for solar activity and coincides with the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle approaching its expected peak late this year and early 2026. The forecast from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The region is expected to see a peak of 115 sunspots, as geomagnetic storms come before the aurora. Meanwhile, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower is expected to produce more than 50 meteors per hour. Astronomers warn that the meteors may be faint to the naked eye and advise observers to put away their phones and avoid light pollution, as it can take up to 30 minutes for the eyes to fully adjust to night vision.
Further reading
Perseid Meteor Shower: Why Astronomers Are Advising You to Put Your Phones Away While Watching the Show This Weekend (Forbes)
