Aurora conditions can be strong enough in the coming nights so that northern lights can be seen visually and with cameras. Here is when looking up and looking at the sky.
Publisher’s note: a geomagnetic storm of level G3 (Fort) in G4 (severe) has been underway since early Sunday. The most recent forecasts for the Space Weather prediction Center (8:30 a.m. to the east) are that these conditions will continue on Sunday evening until Monday morning.
For the Aurora of the DC region, hunters in the DC region are recommended to visually scan the north horizon and with a smartphone / camera starting as soon as it is black in the evening. Favorable conditions should last overnight.
A little over a year ago, on May 10, 2024, the Aurora Borealis illuminated the sky worldwide due to An extreme geomagnetic storm. The DC region had several glorious nights from Northern Lights in 2024.
The last Aurora alert for the region was in April. But in the coming nights, with the sun Having had several important events during the last day, The prospects of seeing the dazzling lights are much larger, with the earth directly in the reticle to receive significant effects accordingly.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Space Weather prediction Center published the following Geomagnetic storm alert Saturday at 10:04 am Hae:
Geomagnetic storm Category G4 or more predicted
The highest storm level predicted per day:
June 01: G3 (Fort) June 02: G4 (severe) June 03: G2 (moderate)
As indicated in the alert:
- Potential impacts: Impact area mainly towards the 45 degree geomagnetic latitude pole.
- Induited currents: possible tension control problems possible and certain protection systems can make a mistake in the key assets from the electrical network. The induced pipeline currents intensify.
- Spacecraft: systems can undergo a surface load; Increased drag on satellites with low terrestrial orbit and monitoring and orientation problems can occur.
- Navigation: GPS degraded or ineffective for hours.
- Radio: Propagation radio at high frequency sporadic or blackened.
- Aurora: Aurora can be perceived as weak as Alabama and northern California.
This geomagnetic storm watch is in force due to a large Coronal mass ejection caused by a powerful solar rocket, which occurred during the last day in the sun which was caused by a powerful solar rocketAccording to the Space Weather Prediction Center. There were 11 solar rockets, including a very powerful explosion, in a period of 24 hours.
This geomagnetic storm and forecasts of Aurora associated events should not reach the Historical levels of May 10, 2024. But we should look at the sky because if the forecasts hold for G4 (severe), it could be quite sight.
The latest SWPC forecasts indicate that a G4 or a serious geomagnetic surveillance of a storm is in force for Monday June 2, but Lights is expected to arrive on Earth no later than Sunday, June 1.
“The arrival of the CME will probably lead to immediate geomagnetic disturbances with the potential for G3 levels (strong) and a chance for G4. The conditions will probably intensify as the increase in the CME continues and that G4 levels will become more possible on Monday, June 2, “,” SWPC said.
For the DC zone, Aurora forecasts of two days of SWPC And The clear sky of forecasts Average lights can be detected in the north.
If the SWPC forecasts are valid, the Aurora conditions can be strong enough in the coming nights to allow us to detect Aurora visually and with our cameras, as we did in October.
It is worth taking a look to the north in the coming nights of a dark site with a clear horizon. You may be able to visually detect a color in the sky if Aurora is present, but they will probably be low on the north horizon. In October, the Aurora spread along the north horizon and spectacularly high in the sky.
Your camera and / or smartphone considerably improves your chances of detecting and imagining the Aurora because of their digital sensors.
Use a camera or smartphone that can take exhibitions of several seconds. Use “night sky” or “low light” parameters if your camera. Stabilize the camera or use a tripod to avoid the blur of your photos. The camera probably captures Aurora that your eyes do not have.
Monitor WTop weather page For the conditions of the sky, The Noaa website,, Earthsky.org,, Spaceweather.com And Space.com For updates.
Spatial time explained
Land time is a factor in the DC region and the rest of the world, as well as Space time. Spatial weather can produce a variety of events, including this more recent geomagnetic storm and Aurora.
Spatial weather, like earthly time, is caused by the interaction of the earth with the sun. We know that it will be there every day and will count on it for the heat and energy that live life. We have also used to being well high. What many people may not know is that the sun undergoes 11 years solar cycle This can affect the space weather throughout our solar system.
The sun is a star of 4.5 billion billion that we have been monitoring for millennia. There is a fleet of spaceships that monitor the sun and time space 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The sun had an episode of behavior disturbed in 1859 that if it happened today could affect us if we were not prepared.
On September 1, 1859, the sun experienced an episode of a solar storm which was observed by the solar astronomer Richard Carrington and ended up bearing his name – The Carrington event. It was a solar astronomy watershed event. It had an effect on earth as we have seen since then.
And it’s a good thing. If a The solar event at the Carrington level was to occur today, The effect on modern infrastructure could be potentially catastrophic – in particular the electrical network. If you think it’s also “science fiction “ To be true, I suggest you read the report of National academies of science published in 2008.
Follow Greg Redfern on Facebook,, Bluesky and his Daily blog To follow the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.
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