Solar flare causes Northern Lights to appear across the world
Footage released from NASA shows the flare erupting from the Sun - the European Space Agency say these eruptions can have the energy of 100 nuclear bombs.
news.sky.comHere’s the latest available on solar flares and the northern lights, based on recent reporting up to now.
- The northern lights are most visible at high latitudes when geomagnetic activity is elevated by solar eruptions (flares accompanied by coronal mass ejections). Recent events have prompted renewed aurora forecasts, with skywatchers in northern regions sometimes seeing displays when CMEs strike Earth’s magnetosphere. [cite ][cite ]
- Forecasters at NOAA’s space weather agency issue alerts for geomagnetic storm levels (G-scale) and aurora visibility, which can extend the chances of seeing the lights to mid-latitudes during strong events. Always check the latest outlook for your area just before nightfall. [cite ][cite ]
Location-specific notes for Piscataway, NJ (roughly mid-latitude in the continental U.S.):
- During strong solar storms, auroras may be visible at unusually low latitudes under clear, dark skies with minimal light pollution, though such sightings are rare and depend on the storm’s strength and cloud cover. [cite ][cite ]
- For the best odds, monitor local weather for a clear sky and follow NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center updates and aurora forecasts, which provide real-time alerts and probability maps. [cite ][cite ]
What you can do now:
- Check the latest aurora forecast and geomagnetic storm alerts from NOAA or SpaceWeatherLIVE for your specific date and time window. If a strong event is forecast, choose a dark site away from city lights and plan to look northward after nightfall. [cite ][cite ]
- If you’re curious about recent notable flare events, you can look for reports from space-weather outlets or major news outlets covering X- or M-class flares and any associated aurora sightings. [cite ][cite ]
Illustration (example scenario):
- Imagine a strong solar flare sending a CME toward Earth on a winter night. The CME interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere, energizing auroral oval activity and potentially pushing auroras down to mid-latitudes like New Jersey, under dark skies. If you’re out skywatching, you’d see green and purple bands stretching across the sky, mainly toward the northern horizon.
Would you like me to pull the latest, location-specific aurora forecast for Piscataway today and provide a short skywatching checklist?