BOSTON – The northern lights are expected to light up the skies in Massachusetts tonight and Friday night, according to the latest aurora forecast. New England is becoming a hotspot for aurora sightings, drawing comparisons to Iceland.
Recent months have seen heightened solar activity, characterized by several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun. The past week has been particularly lively, with numerous reports of northern lights across New England. Although the geomagnetic storm responsible for these sights is calming down, another significant CME occurred on Tuesday from a massive sunspot (AR3848) directed towards Earth.
A fast-moving CME erupted from the Sun on the evening of October 8 and is expected to reach Earth by October 10. This CME holds potential for G4 level activity upon its arrival, suggesting another spectacular northern lights display may occur.
Space weather experts have issued a “Severe G4 Geomagnetic Storm Watch” for Thursday and Friday, potentially initiating a major aurora event similar to the impressive display on May 10. Current models predict that the coronal mass ejection will impact Earth’s atmosphere tonight, lasting up to 12 hours.
While sightings of the aurora are never guaranteed, tonight’s chances are notably high according to aurora predictions.
Meteorologist Jacob Wycoff explained that the northern lights are caused when electrons from the Sun collide with our atmosphere. These interactions, depending on the element and altitude, produce various colors in the sky.
The storm’s intensity is measured using a “K index,” and to see auroras in New England, a K index of 7 or higher is usually required. Tonight’s forecast suggests a K index of 8-9, indicating optimal conditions for aurora visibility.
If the geomagnetic storm progresses as expected, the auroras could potentially be visible as far south as Texas, with good visibility across the northern United States.
Weather conditions are favorable, with clouds expected to dissipate after sunset, leading to clear skies across New England. For the best viewing, it is advised to seek locations with minimal artificial light and unobstructed views of the night sky.
Additionally, an image from a SOHO spacecraft has captured the massive CME along with Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Scientists speculate that the solar blast may have detached part of the comet’s tail, and the comet will be revisited this weekend in the western horizon.