2023-07-11 23:44:17
Northern Lights: A rare phenomenon becomes visible in the skies of the southern United States. (Getty Images)
The colorful northern lights, commonly seen in regions such as Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, will offer a unique spectacle for skygazers in regions farther south than usual. According to scientists from the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, this phenomenon will be visible in a corridor of states that extends from Alaska to Maryland.
The northern lights are produced when solar explosions collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere. Although it is most visible and brightest at more northerly latitudes, where the energized particles interact with the near-Earth atmosphere, creating a colorful spectacle in the night sky.
This visual display is not simply an aesthetic experience. It represents a larger phenomenon that happens 93 million miles away. The solar storm, which is moving the phenomenon south, is part of an 11-year solar cycle that began in 2019 and, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will peak in 2024.
The northern lights show unusually drifts south. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska at Fairbanks predicted that the Northern Lights will be visible in:
– Alaska
– Oregon
– Washington
– Idaho
– Montana
– Wyoming
– North Dakota
– Dakota del Sur
– Minnesota
– Wisconsin
– Michigan
– NY
– New Hampshire
– Vermont
– Indiana
– Maine
– Maryland.
Auroral activity is also forecast in Canada, including Vancouver.
According to the institute, the auroras are expected to be visible in: Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Helena, Montana, and on the horizon in Salem, Oregon, Boise, Idaho, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Annapolis, Maryland, and Indianapolis.
It is estimated that a solar storm, which will arrive on Thursday, will allow the colorful spectacle to be seen. The best times to observe this phenomenon are expected between 10 pm and 2 am local time, according to experts from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. During these hours, the night skies promise more than just the sight of the moon and stars.
The Northern Lights amaze sky watchers in the southern United States.(Pexels)
Also known as the northern lights, it is a natural phenomenon of light that occurs in the polar regions. It forms when charged particles emitted by the sun, such as protons and electrons, interact with Earth’s magnetic field. These particles travel from space and are guided towards the Earth’s poles by the magnetic field.
When these particles collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, collisions occur that excite those atoms. When the excited atoms return to their normal state, they emit photons, which are particles of light. This emission of photons is what creates the beautiful Northern Lights we see in the sky.
The color of the aurora borealis depends on the type of gas present in the atmosphere and the altitude at which the interaction occurs. Green auroras are the most common and are produced when particles interact with oxygen at low altitudes. Red auroras are less frequent and occur at higher altitudes, also with oxygen. On the other hand, blue or purple auroras form when particles interact with nitrogen.
For aurora watchers, it is advisable to find a dark and clear place, away from city light, as the auroras are easier to see in these conditions. It’s also important to remember that the aurora can change rapidly, so observers should be prepared to look at the sky for a while.
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