Title: A Glowing Spectacle: Northern Lights May Illuminate Skies of 15 US States Tonight
Prepare to gaze skywards as the cosmic ballet of the Northern Lights, also known as auroras, could paint the night sky in a spectrum of ethereal hues from Alaska to Iowa. This celestial spectacle is expected to be triggered by a flurry of incoming coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that could spark geomagnetic storm conditions overnight.
Auroras are natural light displays that occur in the Earth’s sky, predominantly in high latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic. They are caused by interactions between the solar wind, a stream of charged particles escaping the sun, and our planet’s magnetic field. This interaction can result in a breathtaking light show, with curtains of green, red, yellow, and violet dancing across the night sky.
The potential for this stunning display comes courtesy of our sun, which has recently been launching a series of CMEs our way. These ejections are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun’s corona that can cause geomagnetic storms when they collide with the Earth’s magnetosphere. It is these storms that could potentially supercharge the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, making them visible much further south than usual.
Residents in the Northern United States should keep an eye to the sky tonight for a chance to witness this natural spectacle. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has released a map showing areas most likely to witness the aurora borealis. The states that have a strong chance of witnessing the Northern Lights include, among others, Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa.
This event is not guaranteed, as the timing and strength of the incoming CMEs will play a critical role in whether or not the Northern Lights will be visible. Weather conditions, such as cloud cover, will also impact visibility. However, those living in the forecasted areas have a unique opportunity to potentially witness one of nature’s most awe-inspiring displays.
If you are planning to try and catch this light show, remember to move away from city lights to darker areas for the best viewing experience. Patience is also key, as the Northern Lights may only appear as faint, shifting glows on the horizon at first before becoming more vibrant and expansive.
This potential celestial spectacle is a reminder of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our solar system. So, fingers crossed that conditions align to provide a breathtaking display of the Northern Lights tonight.
Read more from the original source here: [https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/northern-lights-may-be-visible-in-these-us-states-tonight-nov-10-to-12](https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/northern-lights-may-be-visible-in-these-us-states-tonight-nov-10-to-12).