Spectacular Weekend For Northern Lights & Shooting Stars
NORTHERN LIGHTS AND METEOR SHOWER WEEKEND
Hey, skywatchers! Just a reminder. Because we are looking at a beautiful forecast for the weekend, this could be THE weekend you could see the Northern Lights for the first time, or for the 300th time! If you love them as much as we do, then you'll take any opportunity to get outside and see them. Tonight through the Sunday night, we are supposed to have mainly clear skies, so start making your plan.
Along with a possible Northern Light display in the nighttime sky, it's also peak time for the Perseid Meteor Shower. So if you have kids, it might be a great way to spend some time with the family, camping in a tent, roasting marshmallows under a dark open sky watching the beautiful light display, and looking for shooting stars. It never hurts to make a wish. You might be able to make more than one!
MASS EJECTIONS ARE HEADING OUR WAY
If the predictions happen, Auroras may be visible. There have been some major Mass ejections from the sun over the past few days, which means if conditions are right, there could be some pretty iconic northern light viewing opportunities.
NOAA PREDICTIONS
According to NOAA, this storm is considered a G2. A G2 is a pretty common level storm and can trigger some impressive lights in the evening sky. The best way to see them is to find a dark spot and start viewing as soon as the sky becomes fully dark. Patience is required, as you never know exactly when the northern lights display will begin and end, but this weekend, you'll be able to watch for shooting stars at the same time, so regardless if the northern lights appear, it won't be a wasted evening.
WHAT IS A SOLAR SUBSTORM?
Another condition can create great viewing opportunities, and that is called a solar substorm. Two of the three plasma plumes and magnetic fields erupted on Sunday, August 7th and the other one happened on August 8th. It was an X-class solar flare. Right now all of these ejections are speeding towards Earth and are expected to hit us some time today and through August 11th, according to NOAA Space Weather Prediction Centers.
Here's what you need to do:
- Grab your tent, blanket, and some snacks
- Get your favorite group of people together
- Find a dark dark, open sky; preferably somewhere in the country.
- Build a campfire and roast marshmallows
- Have a nice, cold beverage and some casual conversation
- Look up! Sometimes your phone can see what the naked eye can't so be ready to look through your lens as well as use your own eyes.
- Enjoy your time together!
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