The strongest magnetic fields on earth are found in the Polar Regions at the top and bottom of the planet, which is why the phenomenon is most clearly visible in areas close to there. Energy from the collision is transferred into light and creates the stunning show we can see from earth. The Northern Lights occur when highly charged solar particles collide with particles in the earth’s atmosphere. The name comes from the words ‘Aurora’, the goddess of the dawn, and ‘Boreas’, which is the personification of the northern wind. The term ‘aurora borealis’ means ‘ light of dawn’ and is thought to have been coined by Galileo in 1623. Don’t be confused by the name, the Northern Lights can appear in any direction.Check whether your area is expecting cloud or precipitation, which could block the lights.Try to find a spot with little or no light pollution.
If you are hoping a catch a glimpse of this week’s lights show, here’s a few tips to get the best view: The next one will take place on 23 September.Ī strong geomagnetic storm could push the Northern Lights farther south this week - making them visible in parts of the mainland U.S., including Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oregon. The phenomenon is most eye-catching on clear, cloudless nights and there is typically greater activity around the equinoxes, when there are exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of sunlight in a day. The Northern Lights are usually clearest under dark skies from August until mid-April. Typically aurora borealis is only visible closer to the North Pole, in Alaska and Canada, but the solar storm will push them further south on Thursday and Friday and could be seen in Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oregon. These charged particles will light up the night sky and make the Northern Lights visible in mainland US.īrian Lada of AccuWeather explains: “These clouds of particles are predicted to collide with Earth’s magnetic field on Wednesday night into Thursday, sparking dazzling displays of the aurora.” When can I see the Northern Lights in the US? So if the northern lights do appear, folks in the southern portion of the state should be able to see them, said Marcia Cronce, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sullivan.Parts of the United States could be in for a treat this week as aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, could make a rare appearance in the skies for two nights in a row.Įxplosions on the surface of the sun have sparked coronal mass ejections, sending clouds of charged particles into the solar system. Skies over the southern half of Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee metro area, are expected to be mostly clear on Wednesday night. Auroras typically appear as rippling curtains of green, red or purple light. "These clouds of particles are predicted to collide with Earth's magnetic field on Wednesday night into Thursday, sparking dazzling displays of the aurora," AccuWeather's Brian Lada said.Īccording to, much of the state, including Milwaukee, could see the aurora directly overhead. Recent explosions on the surface of the sun have sent clouds of charged particles, known as coronal mass ejections, hurtling through the solar system, according to AccuWeather. Keep an eye to the sky across Wisconsin on Wednesday night. The aurora borealis, or northern lights, may be making a rare appearance.
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