深空视界
深空视界
Aurora watchers: don't pack up your cameras just yet, as the may return for one last dazzling display tonight (Oct. 2) before conditions quiet down again over the weekend..
Over the past few nights, geomagnetic activity has repeatedly exceeded expectations, with a rather surprising G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm lighting up skies as far south as New York on Wednesday night (Oct. 1). Now, forecasters at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) say the show isn't quite over yet. A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect for tonight, as high-speed continues to buffet ..
. "Similar conditions are expected to continue through 02/1200 UTC with G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) storm levels being likely thereafter."When and where can you see the northern lights tonight?
NOAA's shows that geomagnetic activity could reach G1 (minor) storm levels for much of today (Oct. 2), with a potential G2 (moderate) peak between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. GMT (5 a.m. to 8 a.m. EDT). Although this peak occurs during daylight for many aurora chasers, activity is expected to remain elevated throughout the day and into the evening hours, offering a decent chance for northern lights sightings after dark — especially if the storm strength holds or intensifies as it has on previous nights.
If G2 conditions materialize, the aurora could once again be visible across a wide swath of the northern U.S., weather permitting. Based on NOAA's latest aurora oval forecast, the following states appear to be at least partially above or extremely close to the aurora view line tonight.
States that could see the northern lights tonight
- Alaska
- Washington
- Idaho
- Montana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- New York
- Maine
- Wyoming
Auroras are highly unpredictable, and if G2 or even G3 geomagnetic storm levels are reached — as they were on previous nights — the auroral oval could expand farther south to include additional states like Vermont, and possibly parts of northern Pennsylvania, Iowa, or Oregon's southern half under the right conditions.
Northern Hemisphere aurora forecast courtesy of the Met Office
Will the auroras continue into the weekend?
Unfortunately, this may be the last night of significant aurora activity from this particular space weather event. Both NOAA and the U.K. Met Office expect geomagnetic conditions to gradually settle after Oct. 2, as solar wind speeds begin to decline and moves out of the most active part of the solar wind stream..