Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
It’s a busy start to the year for skywatchers. there The supermoon is coming on January 3on the same day as the peak Quadrantid meteor shower. Meanwhile, the aurora borealis is expected to appear tonight. If you don’t mind the cold weather this weekend, you’ll have plenty to look at outdoors on Friday and Saturday nights.
According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationTonight’s aurora borealis — also known as the northern lights — originates from a G2 magnetic storm, which tends to push the aurora into the northern third of the United States. The storm is expected to reach its peak late Friday and Saturday morning, just after midnight. It will diminish as sunrise approaches.
This aurora is headed toward Earth by a coronal mass ejection, a cloud of plasma and other solar material ejected from the Sun, on New Year’s Day. It was continuing medical education It is rated as luminous at C6 levelIt’s not particularly powerful, but it’s moving straight toward Earth. Once here, solar matter will interact with Earth’s geomagnetic field, causing the northern lights to appear.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that the upper third of the United States will be able to see the northern lights tonight.
States expected to have the best viewing of the aurora include Alaska, Washington, the northern tip of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Eagle-eyed viewers with good vision should be able to see it in Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Depending on the strength, people in the northern parts of Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania may also see it.
Because the aurora borealis is very similar to normal Earth weather, the storm may be weaker or stronger than expected, so even if you are south of NOAA’s predicted line of sight, keep an eye on the local news in case the geomagnetic storm is stronger than expected, which will push the aurora further south.
View tips for the Northern Lights
To get a closer look at the northern lights, follow the same general viewing tips as for any other nighttime observation. You’ll need to stay away from the city and suburbs as much as possible to reduce light pollution. People who reside in states bordering Canada can look upward as twilight will extend that far. People at the southern ends of NOAA’s projected viewing area will have their best chances by finding an elevated location and looking north. The higher you can get, the better your chances.
If you decide to take part in the celestial festivities, be sure to keep an eye out for the Quadrantid meteor shower and supermoon as well. Depending on where you live, you may be able to see all three events at once, making for a nice evening of sky watching.