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Solar storms send particles flowing from the sun that get caught up in Earth's magnetic field, causing colorful auroras to form as they interact with molecules of atmospheric gases In the months ahead, the resulting glowing auroras may be quite a sight – if you look up at the right timeIn the US
, the auroras may become visible in some northern and upper Midwest states from New York to Idaho, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center's experimental Aurora view line The visibility for viewing also will depend on local weather conditions and city lightsAs auroras form, Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles through a process that produces a stunning display of rays, spirals and flickers that have fascinated humans for millennia Whether hues of green, red, blue and even pink dance about in the sky depends on the altitude where the collisions occur, as well as the composition and density of the atmosphere at the time
But Thursday's incoming solar storm should make the auroras visible farther from the poles The geomagnetic activity has a Kp index of 5, meaning the northern lights will also be brighter, according to NOAAThe solar storm could pose a minimal threat to things like satellites, GPS signals and power grids, but it may also provide some additional Thanksgiving entertainment when football and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade have long ended Because of the way the solar particles interact with Earth's magnetosphere, the powerful eruption should make the vibrant northern lights visible to a wider swath of the Northern Hemisphere than usual
The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to gain energy To return to their normal state, the particles release that energy in the form of light, according to the University of Alaska at FairbanksThe Northern Lights were visible Oct 10 at Webster Park in Rochester, New York
To the naked eye, the aurora borealis looked like a glow with a hint of color The camera picked up more color, and saturation was adjusted to see all the colorsRegions of intense magnetic activity known as sunspots are proliferating on the solar surface and are capable of releasing intense bursts of radiation resulting in solar flares that can hurtle toward Earth at the speed of light, according to NOAA Some of the flares can be accompanied by coronal mass ejections, or clouds of plasma and charged particles, that emerge from the sun's outermost atmosphere, the corona
Solve the daily CrosswordThe daily Crossword was played 11,212 times last week Can you solve it faster than others?The daily Crossword was played 11,212 times last week Can you solve it faster than others?CrosswordPlay on YahooBut as a rule of thumb, if the weather is clear, the best aurora is usually visible within an hour or two of midnight, according to NOAA And if it looks as if the northern lights will flare up near you, you should get away from cities and travel to dark locations free from light pollution so you can best see them
The auroras are best seen around the magnetic poles of the Northern and Southern hemispheres in Europe, Asia and North America In the US, Alaska is well known to have the best viewing opportunities for the northern lights
And if it looks as if the northern lights will flare up near you, you should get away from cities and travel to dark locations free from light pollution so you can best see them.The auroras are best seen around the magnetic poles of the Northern and Southern hemispheres in Europe, Asia and North America. In the U.S., Alaska is well known to have the best viewing opportunities for the northern lights.The daily Crossword was played 11,212 times last week. Can you solve it faster than others?The daily Crossword was played 11,212 times last week. Can you solve it faster than others?
