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Northern lights massachusetts5/30/2023 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. As a matter of fact, most of the photos on this page were taken during spring or fall. Yes, this means that the chances of catching them are higher in winter, but certainly not impossible during the warmer months. (Copyright (c) 2022 The Associated Press. The northern lights are easier to see during clear skies and in the presence of cold crisp air. It could also cause voltage irregularities on high-latitude power grids as the loss of radio contact on the sunlit side of the planet. Geomagnetic storms as big as what might be coming can produce displays of the lights that can be seen at latitudes as low as Pennsylvania, Oregon and Iowa. But really it just means that a good chunk of the northern part of the country may get treated to a light show called the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights. It might sound like something from a science fiction movie. That’s heading toward Earth, prompting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to issue a warning about a potentially strong geomagnetic storm. The energy from that flare is trailed by a cluster of solar plasma and other material called a coronal mass ejection, or CME for short. On Thursday, the sun launched what is called an “X-class solar flare” that was strong enough to spark a high-frequency radio blackout across parts of South America. If it were to reach 8, there is a risk for “possible widespread voltage control problems,” and at a 9, “some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts,” according to the agency.CHICAGO (AP) - A fireworks show that has nothing to do with the Fourth of July and everything to do with the cosmos is poised to be visible across the northern United States and Europe just in time for Halloween. Readings from the past 24 hours show current space weather reached a “strong” 7 on the scale. Getty Images The northern lights may be seen in parts of the nation Thursday and Friday. Geomagnetic conditions might make the northern lights visible in the US. On the Kp Index - a 0 to 9 measure used to determine geomagnetic activity - Thursday night’s anticipated show was listed at 6, or “moderate” as of Thursday morning, and Friday is at a “minor” 4, per the NOAA. Unlike a coronal mass ejection - which per the US Naval Institute “can have effects similar to a man-made ” - the biggest byproduct of the sun’s current hole is mainly the awe-inspiring sky lights rather than a doomsday blackout. “The current coronal hole, the big one right now, is about 300,000 to 400,000 kilometers across … That is about 20 to 30 Earths lined up back-to-back.” A coronal hole in the sun might mean the northern lights become visible in the US Thursday and Friday nights. “When the high-speed wind reaches Earth, the particles and the magnetic field it carries will interact with Earth’s magnetic field, effectively rattling it or like ringing a bell,” Alex Young, associate director for science at NASA Goddard’s Heliophysics Science Division, told Insider. This particular vibrant display is all thanks to a massive gap in the sun - known scientifically as a coronal hole - which will be bringing an electromagnetic storm of solar winds to the Earth. The lights could still be visible in the US on Friday, but only to northern regions like Montana, the tip of the Midwest, Maine and the New York-Canadian border. Pilot turns plane around to treat newly engaged couple to stunning views of northern lights Within the Empire State, the Southern Tier, western New York and upstate have the best chances of catching a glimpse as well. The NOAA charts show that the lights may be seen as far west as Washington state, as far south as Iowa and northern Illinois, and as far east as Maine on Thursday night. A decent portion of the US may see the aurora borealis Thursday night. “Due to subtleties in the way the solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere, there is a tendency toward larger geomagnetic storms, and thus better auroras, to occur near the equinoxes.” A “hole” in the sun may bring the northern lights over the US Thursday and Friday. “The best seasons for aurora watching are around the spring and fall equinoxes,” according to the agency. Not only that, but this is one of the most ideal times to gawk at the powerful color spectrum due to the change of seasons, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The northern lights may be traveling south and could be seen across the mainland US from the West to East coasts Thursday and Friday. Solar storm speeding toward Earth could affect radio, GPS signalsĪlaska man can see the Northern Lights from his doorstep Pilot turns jet around for engaged couple’s own stunning northern lights show Strange, glowing spiral over Alaska baffles locals
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