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Geomagnetic storm set to enhance aurora visibility Thursday night<\/strong><\/p>\n A recent coronal mass ejection (CME)<\/strong> from the Sun<\/strong>, combined with high-speed solar wind streams<\/strong>, is setting the stage for a potentially stunning display of the northern lights<\/strong> across parts of the northern United States<\/strong> tonight, Thursday, May 9<\/strong>. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)<\/strong>, auroral activity<\/strong> is expected to intensify heading into Friday<\/strong>, offering a rare opportunity for skywatchers well beyond the usual polar regions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where to look for the aurora tonight<\/strong><\/p>\n Forecast models from NOAA<\/strong> suggest a Kp index of 3<\/strong> for Thursday evening<\/strong>, which typically restricts visibility to higher latitudes. However, there’s a chance the index could climb to 4<\/strong>, expanding visibility farther south. Under these conditions, portions of South Dakota<\/strong>, Maine<\/strong>, and the Upper Midwest<\/strong> could briefly catch the aurora, especially in dark-sky areas<\/strong> far from urban lighting.<\/p>\n The strongest visibility<\/strong> is expected across:<\/p>\n The viewing window<\/strong> is best from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time<\/strong>, with clear skies<\/strong> and north-facing vantage points<\/strong> significantly increasing the chances of a good sighting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What\u2019s fueling this aurora event<\/strong><\/p>\n This burst of auroral activity follows the May 5 CME<\/strong>, which may deliver a “glancing blow”<\/strong> to Earth’s magnetic field by late Thursday into Friday<\/strong>. Alongside that, high-velocity solar winds<\/strong> emerging from a coronal hole<\/strong>\u2014a cooler, less dense area on the sun\u2019s surface<\/strong>\u2014are expected to interact with Earth’s magnetosphere<\/strong>, creating ideal conditions for a minor geomagnetic storm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n NOAA forecasters emphasize that the northern lights could become even more dynamic on Friday<\/strong>, as both solar wind and CME effects converge over the northern U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How to view and photograph the aurora<\/strong><\/p>\n For those hoping to capture this celestial phenomenon, NOAA and photography experts recommend heading to a dark, elevated location<\/strong> facing north<\/strong>, ideally away from light pollution<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If you’re using a smartphone<\/strong>, disable the flash<\/strong> and enable night mode<\/strong>. For DSLR or mirrorless cameras, opt for a wide-angle lens<\/strong>, use an aperture of f\/4 or wider<\/strong>, and set the focus to infinity<\/strong> for best results.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A season of solar activity<\/strong><\/p>\n The northern lights have become increasingly visible thanks to the ongoing solar maximum<\/strong>, a peak phase in the 11-year solar cycle<\/strong> that began around October 2024<\/strong> and is expected to persist through early 2026<\/strong>. During this time, the sun is especially active, generating frequent CMEs<\/strong> and solar flares<\/strong>, which interact with Earth’s upper atmosphere<\/strong>, exciting oxygen and nitrogen particles<\/strong> and creating the glowing curtains of green, red, and purple light.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s powerful solar activity already brought the aurora as far south as Texas<\/strong> and Florida<\/strong> in May 2024<\/strong>, with another notable display last October<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Geomagnetic storm set to enhance aurora visibility Thursday night A recent coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun, combined with high-speed solar wind streams, is setting the stage for a potentially stunning display of the northern lights across parts of the northern United States tonight, Thursday, May 9. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":2527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2526","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news"},"yoast_head":"\n\n