NEED TO KNOW
A solar wind stream may trigger geomagnetic storms, creating northern lights visible overnight on Thursday, May 7 into Friday, May 8
Auroras could be seen in Alaska, Canada, northern U.S., Scandinavia, and Scotland if skies are clear and dark
NOAA recommends using apps to track real-time aurora forecasts and finding dark locations for the best views
A fast-moving stream of solar wind is giving the night sky another chance to glow in the dark!
According to forecasters at the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, geomagnetic conditions are expected to ramp up later on May 7 as high-speed solar wind from a coronal hole sweeps past Earth, potentially triggering active conditions and isolated G1 to G2 geomagnetic storms into May 8.
In other words, the northern lights may be ready for another encore.
For reference, the northern lights (aurora borealis) are a result of geomagnetic storms, which occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating brilliant waves of light in the sky. Still, their visibility depends on several factors, including intensity and location.
While solar activity remains relatively low overall, NOAA noted that conditions could intensify as Earth moves deeper into the incoming solar wind stream.
Read on for when, where and how to watch this stellar event.
When will the northern lights be visible?
Northern Lights
Credit: Getty
Forecasters expect geomagnetic activity to increase from mostly quiet levels by the middle to late hours of Thursday, May 7, with the best chances for aurora visibility stretching overnight into early Friday, May 8.
According to NOAA’s latest forecast discussion, active conditions and isolated G1 to G2 storm periods are possible as the coronal hole high-speed stream strengthens around Earth.
Where will the northern lights be visible?
The northern lights
Credit: Getty
If conditions cooperate, auroras could become visible across higher-latitude regions including much of Alaska and Canada, along with parts of the northern United States.
Areas farther north in Europe (including northern Scandinavia and Scotland) could also have opportunities for visibility under clear skies. As always with northern-lights forecasts, cloud cover and local darkness will play a major role in how vivid the display appears.
How to watch the northern lights?
Aurora borealis
Credit: Gallo Images ROOTS Collection/Getty
Find a dark location away from city lights, ideally with a clear view of the northern sky.
The darker your surroundings, the more vivid the aurora colors will appear. Remember to also keep tabs on real-time conditions using NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast and space-weather apps that track solar wind and magnetic field changes.
How to photograph the northern lights?
Aurora borealis
Credit: RALF HIRSCHBERGER/AFP via Getty
The best part about aurora-watching? You don’t need professional gear to capture the magic… but if you do have a camera handy, that helps, too!
If you’re hoping to photograph the northern lights, you’ll want to keep your setup as steady as possible, since the auroras are best captured with long exposures. But if you have a smartphone handy, that works just fine.
All you have to do is head to your device’s settings and tap the “Night Mode” option or “Pro Mode,” which offers similar exposure times.
Read the original article on People