NOAA Aurora Dashboard provides short-term forecasts of the aurora, including maps of where you can see the aurora.
Eruptions from the sun can cause geomagnetic storms that can interfere with satellites in space, and when plasma clouds and solar radiation strike Earth, they can disrupt power grids and lines, causing blackouts in extreme cases.
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are usually seen at higher latitudes, but strong solar storms can intensify the light show and make it visible farther south than usual.
During periods of high solar activity in recent months, skywatchers have been treated to a number of spectacular displays of the aurora borealis.
Sunday’s solar storm was much weaker than a series of outbursts in May that triggered intense geomagnetic storms on Earth and caused intense aurora borealis displays in many parts of the world, including the United States as far south as Alabama.
According to NOAA, solar activity goes from minimum to maximum in an 11-year cycle, with the current cycle expected to peak in July 2025.
Auroras usually appear as shimmering green curtains of light, but depending on the current composition and density of the planet’s atmosphere, the light can also take on shades of pink, purple, blue and red.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
