The Thursday night sky could bring the mesmerizing sight of the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, to the northern United States, USA Today reported.
Aurora borealis or Northern Lights could be visible across the northern US and parts of the UK Thursday night
As per the Space Weather Prediction Center, there’s a possibility of auroras occurring as far south as Illinois and Oregon. “Aurora chasers are on high alert for some potentially very impressive displays,” according to Space.com.
Excitingly, people in the UK, including places as far south as Cornwall, might have a chance to capture photos of this colorful phenomenon if they have a good camera and can escape light pollution.
The Northern Lights, typically visible over regions closer to the Arctic Circle like Scandinavia and Alaska, make any sighting over the UK a special treat for skygazers. On average, the aurora can be seen in the far north of Scotland every few months but becomes increasingly challenging to observe as you move further south.
The dazzling display is thanks to energetic expulsions from the sun, creating a spectacular natural light show tonight, according to Daily Mail.
This vibrant event is expected to be visible as far south as Dundee after nightfall, with the best views the farther north you can go.
Understanding the marvel of auroras and how to view them best
The Northern and Southern Lights, also known as auroras, are breathtaking natural light shows. These displays occur when charged particles from the sun enter Earth’s atmosphere.
Normally, Earth’s magnetic field deflects these particles, but during stronger storms, they penetrate the atmosphere and collide with gas particles like hydrogen and helium. These collisions produce light in various stunning colors, with pale green and pink being commonly observed.
Auroras are a result of disturbances in Earth’s magnetosphere caused by intense solar activity. The upcoming display is triggered by a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are massive ejections of plasma from the sun’s outermost layer, the corona.
‘Cameras help as the long exposure allows loads of light in and enhances the colors more than the human eye can see,’ a Met Office spokesperson said. For the best viewing experience, it’s recommended to find a dark location away from light pollution, such as streetlights, and, ideally, under a clear, cloud-free sky.
