Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
The Aurora Borealis phenomenon — also called the northern lights — could be seen across several states last night, including Pennsylvania. And conditions might allow for the northern lights to be seen again in our region tonight. The lights, which appear as colorful bands or swirls in the sky, are a result of solar particles interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. And as the sun is going through the most active phase of its 11-year cycle, this means that the northern lights have been seen further south than usual — in some cases, as far south as Florida. These solar storms may affect more than just creating lights in the sky, too. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association has released a Severe Magnetic Storm Alert, which may mean some technology such as satellites could be affected, and potentially disrupt some communications. The NOAA also has tips on their website about how to get the best view of the northern lights, should they appear. The current overnight forecast doesn’t help the chances to see the lights. As the AccuWeather website reports, “clouds will be problematic for some skywatchers.” But if the sky is clear enough, your best chance to see the northern lights will be away from cities, to avoid the light pollution. The NOAA suggests that the best time to look will be between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. And as you might expect, the lights are going to be easier to see the further north you are.
