TL;DR
- The Northern Lights, typically seen near the poles, graced several US states due to a massive solar eruption.
- The aurora borealis may move nearer to the equator as a result of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun.
- The recent CME was described as the “largest filament eruption” by a solar physicist.
- An aurora forecast map was made available by the Space Weather Prediction Center for potential viewing locations.
- A geomagnetic storm from the solar explosion could affect communications and power.
On a rare and fascinating night, the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, presented a stunning display that covered the skies of several US states, including New York, Illinois, and Oregon. This dazzling display was a consequence of a massive solar eruption that occurred on the sun just a day earlier.
The vibrant and entrancing hues of the Northern Lights, which include tones of green, red, pink, and purple, are well known. The sky above the Arctic Circle or close to the South Pole is where you can witness what is widely known as the aurora australis.
This geographical specificity is due to Earth’s magnetic field, which usually directs the steady stream of solar particles known as the “solar wind” towards the polar regions, resulting in these breathtaking displays.
However, exceptional solar events, such as surface eruptions on the sun, can disrupt this pattern by sending an intensified surge of solar wind toward Earth. This surge broadens the aurora’s range southward, toward the equator, as well as enhancing its brilliance.
This is precisely what happened on the night of this celestial show, following a significant eruption on the sun’s surface.
This solar event is known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), and it was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
The awe-inspiring nature of this particular CME was underscored by Keith Strong, a seasoned solar physicist, who described it as the “largest filament eruption” he had witnessed, spanning “over half the sun.”
The aurora on Earth is known to be significantly affected by CMEs of this size, allowing them to stretch southward and grace areas that don’t usually receive such displays. While the Northern Lights are usually confined to polar areas, this CME phenomenon allowed them to travel much farther.
An aurora forecast map was made available by the Space Weather Prediction Center, showing potential viewing areas for the Northern Lights in the early morning or late at night.
Red zones on the map represented areas with a high probability of auroral visibility, while green zones indicated lower probabilities. The red line on the map demarcated the southernmost areas where the aurora could potentially appear on the northern horizon.
The eruption from the sun arrived at Earth somewhat earlier than originally predicted, offering enthusiasts and skywatchers a remarkable opportunity to witness the Northern Lights.
Experts anticipated favorable conditions for viewing the aurora in the northern United States over the next several hours, provided the heightened solar activity persisted.
The solar explosion is expected to provide a stunning visual spectacle as well as a geomagnetic storm in the upper atmosphere. High-frequency radio communications may be interfered with by this geomagnetic storm, which may also result in isolated blackouts.
Even while experts now forecast a mild G1 or G2 geomagnetic storm, there is a possibility that it could develop into a G3 storm depending on the present solar activity.
A remarkable interplay between the sun and the Earth’s magnetic field produces spectacular natural beauty displays that captivate viewers and provide a window into the mysteries of our solar system. This celestial event serves as a reminder of this relationship.
Source(S): businessinsider
