Viewers in the northern parts of Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, Michigan, Wisconsin and northeastern Washington may get a coveted glimpse of the Northern Lights Wednesday night—but researchers have largely backtracked on earlier predictions that sky gazers in as many as 17 states would be able to see the natural phenomena.
The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon at St Mary's Lighthouse ... [+]
The Space Weather Prediction Center Wednesday estimated that the aurora borealis will be visible further south than its usual range of Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, but previous estimates that a moderate disturbance of Earth’s magnetic field would bring the lights even further south have been downgraded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Views of the northern lights usually get less dazzling the further south they go as the curvature of the Earth cuts off views, leading skygazers to see more of a reddish glow as opposed to the typical green "curtains" shimmering in the night, Bill Murtagh, program coordinator at the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, told the Associated Press earlier this year.
This isn't the first time this year the northern lights have made an appearance in the lower 48: A strong solar storm brought bright lights to North Carolina and Arizona in March, nearly stretching across the Mexican border.
The best time to watch for aurora is in the hours around midnight, with the most spectacular displays usually spotted between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute.
NOAA predictions estimate the view line for the lights will have retreated further north and no longer be visible in the lower 48 states by Thursday night.
The northern lights, seen around the magnetic north and south poles, are caused when electrically charged particles stream out from the sun, enter Earth’s atmosphere and collide with molecules and atoms of gas. The density of the atmosphere and the altitude of the collisions are what bring the green, red, blue, pink and purple colors to the sky. Scientists are able to predict when there will be aurora, "but with less confidence than they can predict the regular weather,” according to the Geophysical Institute.
Well, lights. Gazers within the NOAA-predicted sight line should keep their eyes to the north and watch for unique glimmers of light which will likely grow in intensity overtime. Weak activity will, to the naked eye, look like fog moving in the wind.
The indigenous peoples of Northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia—the Sami—have historically believed the northern lights contain the souls of their ancestors and must be treated with immense respect for fear of retribution.
Aurora Viewline For Tonight and Tomorrow Night (NOAA)
Northern Lights Dazzle World Thanks To Strongest Solar Storm In Years (Forbes)
Millions See Northern Lights Thanks To ‘Holes’ Around The Earth And Sun (Forbes)