However, this solar event has many aurora enthusiasts excited, so cross your fingers and get out there.A G2 class storm typically has brought aurora sightings as far south as Washington. It doesn't happen all that often, and even when it looks like things are aligning in your favor, it might not appear. The northern lights are visible inside the US from time to time but don't take your chance for granted. You're never sure if you're going to see something even when the variables are lining up in your favor. It's a bit like whale watching in that way. Likewise, if you see it, that doesn't mean it's going to be around all night. Just because it's not there one moment doesn't mean that it won't be soon. ![]() Once you're in your spot of choice, you're going to need to be patient and keep your eyes on the sky. The key to crossing the northern lights off of your bucket list is persistence and patience. An SWPC representative previously told Thrillist, "You need very clear skies, a good view of the northern horizon (no trees, buildings, or hills), and it needs to be dark." The northern lights, seen this far south, will likely be visible along that horizon rather than directly overhead. You'll also need the weather to cooperate, or you're out of luck. This Light Pollution Map or the Dark Site Finder may help you locate an area with dark skies near you. The further you are from city lights, the better your chances. It's unlikely you'll see the aurora in a city, let alone a major urban hub like Detroit, even though it is within the potential range of the aurora per the SWPC. (The breakdown was even different on the night of October 28 than it was on the morning of October 29.) Things can and will likely change. A site like Aurorasaurus, the SWPC's 30-minute forecast, or resources like Space Weather Watch on Twitter are good places to keep an eye on for updates closer to real-time.įor the best view, you need to get away from light pollution, which is harder than many people realize. Again, that's just the forecast at the time of publication. A G2 watch is in effect from 8 pm to 11 am ET, followed by a less powerful G1 watch from 2 am until the early morning hours of Halloween. Nonetheless, the watch goes on throughout the night and into the early hours of Halloween. Depending on where you are, that could mean that it's too light out for you to take advantage of the strongest part of the storm. At the time of publication, the SWPC's forecast projects the G3-the strongest part of this storm-to arrive from 5 pm to 8 pm ET on October 30. Nothing can guarantee the lights will show up on any given night, but these forecasts mean the stars are aligning in your favor if you will. Many variables have to align for the aurora to make an appearance. Image courtesy of the Space Weather Prediction Center It's difficult to predict the presence of the northern lights with certainty. ![]() The situation can change and beyond that, sometimes you just don't see the aurora for other reasons. Though, it's important to note that those forecasts are not guarantees. When the activity is particularly strong, you might see the northern lights creep further south than it is generally seen. Among other things, that activity can result in auroral displays. The watches are a measure of solar activity arriving at the Earth's atmosphere. ![]() The warning is a G3, a "strong" watch level in the SWPC system. A coronal mass ejection (CME) on October 28 could result in elevated auroral activity on October 30 into the morning of Halloween. The SWPC has issued a geomagnetic storm warning for the night of October 30. If that makes sense to you, you may want to attempt seeing the northern lights this weekend, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). Especially if that item usually requires you to go out in the snow. The nights are getting colder, but they aren't so cold yet that you wouldn't step outside to cross something off your bucket list.
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