Thanksgiving Spectacle: Solar storm to bring Northern Lights to parts of US

Aurora lovers in the northern parts of the US and Canada are in for a treat this Thanksgiving, as a solar storm is expected to send the northern lights, or the aurora borealissoutherly than normal, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast.

Increased solar activity has already made this year a notable one for aurora viewing opportunities, and NOAA has now issued a geomagnetic storm watch for both Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming northern lights and how to catch a glimpse this Thanksgiving.

Where to See the Northern Lights

• Wednesday night: The northern lights can be seen as far south as the Canadian border, and states like Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota have a good chance of seeing them.

• Thanksgiving night: The auroras will likely move south. The best viewing areas will be Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and parts of Wisconsin.

Low chances can be expected in the northern states of Idaho, South Dakota, Michigan, and Wyoming. States like New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine may also have a lower chance of seeing the northern lights but they can catch a bit more.

When and How Best to Watch

• Appropriate viewing times: The northern lights are most visible between 10pm and 2am local time.

• Where to watch: Go to higher elevations or places away from city lights for the best viewing experience.

• How to capture: To take pictures, set your camera’s focus to the farthest setting, use a wide area, and increase the ISO. If you’re using a smartphone, enable night mode to capture the colors of the sky.

What Causes the Northern Lights?

The northern lights are natural light displays caused by solar activity, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). When these events release a burst of charged particles, along with the solar wind, toward Earth, they interact with the planet’s magnetic field, creating the bright lights seen in the night sky. As the Earth is currently experiencing solar mass, the phase of the Sun’s 11-year cycle, the auroral activity is stronger than usual, giving more opportunities to witness these beautiful displays.