April aurora: Northern US could see celestial lights this week
The northern lights may glow over part of the United States this week following a pair of eruptions on the sun. Here's where they could be visible.
NASA Astronaut Don Pettit captured this amazing view of auroras across Earth’s atmosphere from the perspective of the International Space Station on April 5.
Stargazers might be able to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis this week, with shades of green and red glowing in the sky as far south as the northern United States.
A pair of eruptions on the sun over the weekend sent clouds of charged particles hurtling toward the Earth, which are expected to impact the planet through midweek. The result was the northern lights shining in some areas on Tuesday night, with another chance to see them on Wednesday night.
An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is seen in the night sky on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Moscow, Idaho. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
A level 3 geomagnetic storm is likely, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, which could disrupt radio waves and some satellite operations in addition to creating the aurora.
Where will the aurora be visible?
While a widespread aurora outbreak is not expected, people across Canada and the far northern United States may still have a chance to see the celestial lights. This includes areas as far south as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, Wyoming and Oregon.
If the geomagnetic storm is stronger than anticipated, the aurora could be visible even farther south. Additionally, people using long-exposure photography might capture images of the lights, even where they are not visible to the naked eye.
However, AccuWeather meteorologists caution that clouds, rain and even snow could complicate viewing conditions.
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For many onlookers under a cloud-free sky, the Aurora Borealis will appear as a faint green or red glow in the northern sky. Experts recommend heading to an area with a clear view of the northern horizon for the best chance of seeing the aurora.
The colors are created when particles from the sun interact with oxygen and nitrogen in different parts of Earth's atmosphere. Green and red are the most common colors, but during stronger geomagnetic storms, blue and purple can also be seen. It's important to note that any images circulating on social media showing yellow or white auroras were likely generated using AI.
