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Minor geomagnetic storms expected Monday evening<\/strong><\/p>\n Tonight, Monday, June 17,<\/strong> skywatchers across the northern United States<\/strong> may be treated to a rare and dazzling display of the aurora borealis<\/strong>, as minor geomagnetic storms<\/strong> are forecast to occur due to increased solar wind activity<\/strong>, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The NOAA\u2019s Kp index<\/strong>, a scale used to measure geomagnetic activity<\/strong> (from 0 to 9), is projected to peak near level 5<\/strong> this evening. That level suggests a visible aurora<\/strong> may extend unusually far south, allowing those in several U.S. states to potentially witness the northern lights<\/strong> with the naked eye.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where the northern lights might appear<\/strong><\/p>\n Forecasts indicate that the best chances<\/strong> for auroral visibility lie across Alaska<\/strong> and much of northern Canada<\/strong>, but NOAA also expects the shimmering lights to be possible across parts of:<\/p>\n South Dakota<\/strong>, There is a lower but notable chance<\/strong> of visibility in northeastern Washington<\/strong>, northern Idaho<\/strong>, Montana<\/strong>, North Dakota<\/strong>, and northern Wisconsin<\/strong>. The Monday night forecast map<\/strong> released by NOAA highlights the potential visibility line drifting further south than typical during standard auroral activity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What\u2019s causing this auroral event<\/strong><\/p>\n This geomagnetic disturbance stems from high-speed solar wind streams<\/strong> flowing from a coronal hole<\/strong> \u2014 a cooler and less dense region on the Sun\u2019s surface<\/strong>. These winds interact with Earth\u2019s magnetosphere<\/strong>, exciting oxygen and nitrogen molecules<\/strong> in the upper atmosphere, which then release their energy as light<\/strong> \u2014 creating the northern lights<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The current uptick in solar activity aligns with a forecasted solar maximum<\/strong>, expected to peak around late 2024 to early 2025<\/strong>, increasing the frequency of solar flares<\/strong> and coronal mass ejections<\/strong> that drive geomagnetic phenomena.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ideal time and conditions for viewing<\/strong><\/p>\n The best viewing window<\/strong> is projected to fall between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time<\/strong>. To enhance your chances, NOAA recommends heading to a dark location<\/strong>, far from city lights and ideally at a higher elevation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tips for photographing the aurora<\/strong><\/p>\n To capture the display, photography experts<\/strong> recommend using a wide-angle lens<\/strong>, with a low aperture (f\/4 or lower)<\/strong>, and setting the focus to infinity<\/strong>. If using a smartphone<\/strong>, enabling night mode<\/strong> and mounting the device on a tripod<\/strong> can help stabilize and enhance your shot.<\/p>\n Stay alert throughout the evening<\/strong> \u2014 visibility will vary based on cloud cover and local light pollution, but with the current solar conditions<\/strong>, parts of the Northeast, Midwest<\/strong>, and even the Northern Plains<\/strong> could be in for a celestial show<\/strong> rarely seen at these latitudes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Minor geomagnetic storms expected Monday evening Tonight, Monday, June 17, skywatchers across the northern United States may be treated to a rare and dazzling display of the aurora borealis, as minor geomagnetic storms are forecast to occur due to increased solar wind activity, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NOAA\u2019s Kp […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nWyoming<\/strong>,
\nIowa<\/strong>,
\nNew York<\/strong>,
\nNew Hampshire<\/strong>,
\nVermont<\/strong>,
\nMaine<\/strong>, and
\nUpper Michigan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n