CME Cloud Headed towards Earth -- Weekend Northern Lights Show Possible

Charged Particle Cloud from Sun heading towards Earth

When does the Aurora storm watch begin?

Details and Northern Lights Viewing Tips

By Jim Thomas -- Soft Serve News, Posted: July 11, 2013

A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) emanating from the Sun is heading towards Earth and may cause a Northern Lights show. A CME is a fast moving cloud of charged particles.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a 48 hour minor magnetic storm watch beginning at the time indicated above. It is this disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field that causes the Northern Lights. The beginning of the storm watch does not necessarily predict the arrival time of the CME cloud, rather it indicates that, within that 48 hour period, increased activity is expected. Real-time Aurora Borealis forecasts can be obtained at the Aurora Borealis Forecast page at Soft Serve News.

One can also get free Aurora Alerts to let you know when the Northern Lights display is large via Facebook or Twitter

Strong CMEs can sometimes cause trouble for satellites and create problems with electrical grids by inducing currents as the CME cloud interacts with the magnetic field that surrounds the earth. NOAA indicates that weak power grid fluctuations may occur.

NOAA estimates the CME might produce a Kp number of 5, but that's never fully known until it hits Earth. Actually, a minor geomagnetic storm has been buffeting the earth for the last two days. The fact that no storm watch was issued in advance for the July 10th and 11th activity underscores the difficulty in predicting the geomagnetic level days in advance.

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, can range from a faint green glow on the northern horizon to a multicolored, full-sky display which can be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenes in nature.



WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SEE THE AURORA?

To determine if you can see the Northern Lights use the following three steps:

Step 1 -- Know your Location's "KP number."

The KP number is the Geomagnetic Activity Level. The stronger the Aurora, the larger the KP number and the further south it can be seen. Find the KP number for your location on the one of the maps below. On the night you wish to view, periodically check the real-time Aurora Borealis Forecast. This will give you the KP number prediction for the Aurora for the next hour or so. If that number is greater or equal to the number on the map for your location, you're in luck. Even if the predicted number is one point too low, it still might be worth a look. (Note: It may be difficult to see in far northern areas like Alaska due to the less dark summer nights)

North America


Europe & Asia



Step 2 -- Check the Weather.

Auroras happen in the upper atmosphere, so if there are clouds blocking your view of the stars, you won't be able to see the Aurora.

Step 3 -- Shop for a Dark Spot.

Get away from those city lights. Darkness is best for viewing the Aurora. The fewer competing light sources, the better. But it is also very important to remember the widest part of the Aurora is when the sun is on the opposite side of the earth. So late, nighttime (or early morning) dark tends to be best.


EXPECTATIONS

Experienced Northern Lights hunters are familiar with disappointment. Predictions of when the CME cloud hits the earth are not always accurate. Sometimes CME events produce much smaller displays than expected, or even none at all. Also, it is possible the main Auroral event happens during the day and therefore can only be enjoyed by people on the other side of the world where it's dark.

Even with these uncertainties, seeing the grandeur of a powerful Aurora Borealis display may be a once in a lifetime event, so for some it's worth the gamble to try.






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