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Massive Solar Flare Eruption Could Bring Northern Lights to U.S. Skies This Weekend

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, this week, a massive solar flare erupted from the Sun’s surface, marking the largest solar event since 2017. Solar flares are powerful bursts of electromagnetic radiation that reach Earth in about eight minutes, traveling at the speed of light. While these flares can disrupt satellite and radio communications, most people won’t notice much impact in their daily lives.

However, this flare did cause shortwave radio blackouts across Europe and Africa. When the radiation hit Earth, it ionized the upper atmosphere, creating a dense environment that weakens high-frequency shortwave radio signals. These signals, crucial for long-distance communication, can be absorbed or lost as they pass through the charged layers of the ionized atmosphere.

But there’s a silver lining for skywatchers: this solar activity could bring the Northern Lights into view this weekend. Two geomagnetic storms, driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun, are expected to reach Earth, potentially illuminating skies in northern latitudes with the vibrant aurora.

 

Although solar flares themselves don’t create the Northern Lights, CMEs—massive releases of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun—do. When CMEs collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, they spark the beautiful aurora displays.

In the U.S., Northern Lights may be visible from states like Minnesota, Michigan, and even as far west as Oregon, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

The Sun is currently moving toward its “solar maximum,” an active phase of its 11-year cycle, which means we can expect more frequent geomagnetic storms and, with them, increased chances to see the Northern Lights through late 2024 and into 2025.

If you’re hoping to catch this celestial show, keep an eye on the skies this weekend, especially in areas with clear weather. With solar maximum on the horizon, there could be more chances to witness this breathtaking phenomenon in the months to come.

 

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