By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-27 21:51:40 | Updated at 2024-11-28 00:29:14
2 hours ago
The Cosmos are set to put on a stunning show as Americans gather around the table for Thanksgiving.
The sun released a burst of energy late Sunday evening that is scheduled to hit Earth Thursday, creating stunning northern lights in parts of the northern US.
Most of Washington, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine are positioned for potential auroras.
And northern regions of Idaho, Wyoming, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire may also see the colored lights.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explained that aurora can often be observed just after sunset or just before sunrise.
Space weather experts say auroras could be visible from 10 ET Thursday to 1am Friday ET.
NOAA also issued a warning about a geomagnetic storm that could impact radios, satellites and GPS, which will linger into Black Friday.
'Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms,' NOAA shared.
'Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.'
Americans are expected to see stunning northern lights on Thanksgiving after the sun released a burst of energy Sunday
Pale auroras may be seen across many northern states Thursday and Friday, but they may be brief and and seeing them will depend on how intense the solar storms get, NOAA meteorologist Mike Bettwy said.
Both the northern lights and geomagnetic storm are due to a coronal mass ejection (CEM).
Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation that stem from a release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots, and are the largest explosive events in the solar system.
After the solar flare erupted, a second blast of high energy particles and solar plasma made a direct line for Earth - that was the CME.
The northern lights can be visible all across the night sky, but are often difficult to see with the naked eye in the US.
A smartphone camera can help skygazers get a better view. Simply point your camera at the sky and watch the aurora appear on the screen.
This spectacle - also known as the aurora borealis - is a natural light show that occurs when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field, decorating the night sky with vibrant curtains of green, pink, red, yellow, blue and violet.
Most of Washington, Montana , the Dakotas, Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan and Maine are positioned for potential auroras. And northern regions of Idaho , Wyoming , New York, Vermont and New Hampshire may also see the colored lights
Aurora are most commonly seen in the auroral zone - a region within 1,550 miles of the North Pole. Typically, the lights can only be seen in areas including Scandinavia, Alaska and Iceland.
But geomagnetic storms can make them appear further south.
The sun is currently at the maximum phase of its 11-year cycle, making solar surges and northern lights more frequent.
The sun released 20 flares over the last 24 hours, with one causing blackouts over the Indian Ocean.
The active period is expected to last for at least another year, though scientists won't know when solar activity peaked until months after the fact, according to NASA.
While geomagnetic storms can cause radio blackouts, experts do not expect major communication disruptions from this week's solar storm.
