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Geomagnetic activity increases chances of aurora borealis over northern U.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n A “minor” geomagnetic storm<\/strong> is brewing over North America<\/strong> this evening, Monday, June 10<\/strong>, following the effects of a coronal mass ejection<\/strong> (CME) that erupted from the Sun<\/strong> on June 6<\/strong>. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)<\/strong>, the aurora borealis<\/strong> could make an appearance tonight across multiple northern states<\/strong>, offering a rare celestial show well beyond typical viewing zones.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NOAA outlook: Kp index forecast and potential visibility<\/strong><\/p>\n The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center<\/strong> forecasts a Kp index of 3<\/strong> on the nine-point geomagnetic scale<\/strong> for tonight, suggesting moderate auroral activity<\/strong>. However, there’s a possibility that the Kp could rise slightly above 4<\/strong>, increasing the odds for visibility across parts of the Northern Plains<\/strong> and the Upper Midwest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n That means skywatchers in Maine<\/strong>, South Dakota<\/strong>, Montana<\/strong>, northern Minnesota<\/strong>, Upper Michigan<\/strong>, and northern Wisconsin<\/strong> might have a chance to catch a glow of color<\/strong> in the night sky. Visibility will depend heavily on local cloud cover<\/strong>, light pollution<\/strong>, and geomagnetic fluctuations<\/strong> in real time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where and when to look for the northern lights<\/strong><\/p>\n The best timeframe<\/strong> to witness the aurora borealis remains between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.<\/strong> local time. Optimal viewing conditions will be in dark<\/strong>, elevated<\/strong>, and unobstructed areas<\/strong> that face north<\/strong>. While the aurora oval<\/strong> is most prominent over Alaska<\/strong> and central Canada<\/strong>, northeastern Washington<\/strong>, northern Idaho<\/strong>, and North Dakota<\/strong> are also on the fringe of the visibility zone tonight.<\/p>\n Forecasts for Tuesday, June 11<\/strong>, and Wednesday, June 12<\/strong>, show similar expectations, with the Kp index<\/strong> hovering around 3 to 4<\/strong>, indicating sustained moderate potential for auroras in the same geographic corridor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why solar activity is increasing in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n This burst of solar energy follows heightened solar flare activity<\/strong> linked to the approach of the solar maximum<\/strong>, predicted by NASA<\/strong> to peak in October 2024<\/strong>. Solar maxima occur roughly every 11 years<\/strong> and are characterized by an increase in sunspots<\/strong>, solar flares<\/strong>, and CMEs<\/strong>, all of which can fuel geomagnetic storms on Earth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n A notable comparison comes from last year, when a powerful storm enabled northern lights visibility in all 50 states<\/strong>, an event not seen in decades. As we progress deeper into this solar cycle, events like tonight\u2019s will likely become more frequent<\/strong> and intense<\/strong> through at least early 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Visual tips for photographers hoping to capture the aurora<\/strong><\/p>\n For those hoping to preserve the moment, National Geographic<\/strong> photographers suggest using a tripod<\/strong>, a wide-angle lens<\/strong>, and keeping the aperture at f\/4 or lower<\/strong>. For smartphones, NASA<\/strong> advises enabling night mode<\/strong>, turning off flash<\/strong>, and selecting a long exposure time<\/strong>, when available.<\/p>\n Tonight\u2019s atmospheric conditions could gift some areas in the continental United States<\/strong> with a dazzling display typically reserved for more polar latitudes<\/strong>. Stay tuned to NOAA\u2019s real-time aurora map<\/strong> to monitor the shifting visibility line throughout the night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Geomagnetic activity increases chances of aurora borealis over northern U.S. A “minor” geomagnetic storm is brewing over North America this evening, Monday, June 10, following the effects of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted from the Sun on June 6. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the aurora borealis could make […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":3908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n