If you are in Canada, or in a few select more northern states in the United States, there is a possibility of seeing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) from December 9th-11th.
There is a potential for increased activity tonight and for the next couple of days due to an inbound coronal mass ejection that accompanied a solar flare. A solar flare is a release of energy on the sun due to a rapid reconfiguration of the magnetic field near sunspots. This burst of energy (radiation) occurs across all wavelengths. A coronal mass ejection is an emission of plasma from the sun. It is these particles that will eventually reach the Earth and potentially ‘rain-down’ into the upper atmosphere treating everyone to a show.
Aurorawatch.ca
Here’s a map displaying the areas that they’ll be most visible:
It’s not very frequently that Aurora Borealis can be seen this far south. Meteorologist Mark Tarello in Minnesota is predicting the lights will be seen in the areas of the green and north, on the map above. Depending on your location, and the weather, have a look to see if you can find them over the next few nights.
*Note – If it’s rainy, cloudy, overcast where you are, you likely won’t be able to see them. You need clear lights to really see the Northern Lights shine
*Note – If you live in a metropolitan area, you’ll likely have a hard time with spotting them due to light pollution. This means that if you live in a city, or well-lit town, you might have to drive 5-10 miles outside of the city/town to actually be able to find them. The reflection of street lights, houses, buildings, etc… all drown out the visibility of the Auroras.
If you’ve ever seen them before, finding the Northern Lights is always a special moment, and something you don’t get sick of. If you’ve never seen them before, I promise it’s something you won’t ever forget.
Happy Aurora hunting!
I wish! We are on the fringe of the green and it’s very dark…just need the cloud yo clear…
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Well, check again tomorrow! From my understanding, from Aurora watch, it should be just as strong tomorrow night and the next. Hopefully the skies clear.
There’s some serious cloud cover here right now due to the fact that it’s snowing. I’m hopeful that it’ll clear tomorrow and I can go out tomorrow night and hunt.
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Unfortunately, I’m pretty south, so I won’t be able to witness the Northern Lights. One day, though!
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One day, you’ll get to see it. Probably from a far off land, like Norway. I can see you galivanting around the world and finding them on your travels.
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When it’s safe to travel again, for sure!
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I hop one day yo view the Southern Lights that can occur in Australia, where I live … not a ‘bucket list thing, but just something …
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I would love to see Aurora Australis one day. (Mainly just because then I would be in the southern hemisphere and I dreaaaaaam of visiting Australia.
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If you ever so come to Australia,let me know and if you come to South Australia I’ll take you out to lunch!
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I just googled to see if my friend is in South Australia. He’s not, but when I googled to see I saw that South Australia has a place called Kangaroo Island. If that place is populated with Kangaroos, I want to goooooooo!
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Kangaroo has had terrible bush fires recently, and many animals died in the fires. Kangaroo actually had many koalas die in the fires, and they lost lots of their habitat. Koalas live up in trees, and they can’t get away from fires as well as kangaroos can. I see kangaroos very occasionally around where I live.
Kangaroos, koalas, lots of reptiles and a variety insects, and lots and lots of beautiful birds!
I love Australia!
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The meteorologist here was saying it’s a possibility that we could see the aurora even this far south… however unlikely. He was suggesting to people in our viewing area to give it a shot between 10:00pm and 1:00am and you’d definitely have to be somewhere that’s got zero light pollution for it to matter. I’d absolutely love to see the Northern Lights at some point in my life… I just don’t think this is the night that it’ll happen.
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It’s such a rarity to see them at strength so far south. I’d reckon if you did see them they’d be so dim it could be mistaken for just regular starlight. Where this far north it has the potential to light the sky in fluorescent green, I’d bet there it’s more of a dull, pale light.
Who knows, perhaps one day you can go on a trip to Alaska or something and find them?
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Some friends of mine went to Iceland a few years ago and got to see the lights. Their pictures were amazing. I can’t remember if it’s on my bucket list to see them. If it’s not, I need to add it.
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It’s uh, raining here.
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Better luck tomorrow.
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Sadly, there was not enough magic in the air today 😦
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I have to travel… To see all of it… I hope one day I will… ❤️
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You will. I have no doubt that you’re going to accomplish all of your dreams.
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It has been my dream to see auroras one day and I wish to complete it soon..
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I really hope that you get to!
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Thanks so much for the info. I’m I’m BC right in the green zone. Fingers crossed.
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Did you see them last night? We had cloud covered sky due to snow so we didn’t see much of anything.
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No…the low valley cloud is obscuring the sky. We’re going to drive up to the mountains and see if we can get above the clouds. Fingers crossed. Hope your sky is clearer tonight.
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I’ve always wanted to see them! I’m a sky watcher, day and night. This stuff is real magic made by the cosmos 🌌 So cool!!
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I agree. It’s like the universe on display just for you when you see it.
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One night in Juneau Alaska they shot across the sky unmistakably and the whole town could see them, neon green. I stopped driving, pulled over to a city park and stood on a bench just marveling. You make me miss Alaska.
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