Aurora Borealis 2012: Solar Flare Could Make Northern Lights Visible Much Farther South (VIDEO)

Though the massive solar storm that hit earth late yesterday may cause satellite disruptions and power outages over the next 24 hours, the news isn't all bad: Scientists predict the cosmic activity will expand the reach of the Aurora Borealis tonight, making it visible for more people around the globe.

A number of news outlets from areas normally much too far south to see the lights -- like New York and Philadelphia -- have reported that residents may get a rare opportunity to see them tonight.

But as the Geophysics Institute at the University of Alaska points out, predicting when and where people will be able to see the Northern Lights is often difficult, especially because sightings can be effected by weather phenomena like rain and clouds.

Luckily, a number of research institutes have developed tools available on the Internet to help people determine the probability of seeing the lights in their area.

The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, offers an Aurora forecast map that allows user to zoom in on their region. The map shows the approximate time a particular area will experience the greatest level of geomagnetic activity.

But in case the tool is down or lagging behind due to satellite interference, the institute also offers a more detailed set of maps showing the current "Geophysical Activity Forecast," a number measuring of the amount of geomagnetic activity in the atmosphere over a 3-hour period on a scale of 1 to 9.

Knowing the Geophysical Activity Forecast makes it possible to figure out the likelihood of seeing the lights using charts, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center explains in its guide to viewing the Aurora.

People can use the Prediction Center's charts to look up their "magnetic latitude" and see what level the Geophysical Activity Forecast needs to reach in order for them to see the Aurora. For example, the storms today are expected to produce a GAF number of 5, which means that anyone in a magnetic latitude above 56.3 degrees should theoretically be able to see the Aurora.

Soft Serve News also has an updated profile of current forecast measures and tools for helping people determine how they can view the lights from their area.

Watch a time lapse video of the Aurora Borealis recorded late Tuesday night and early morning, above, and check out two slideshows below featuring photos of the Northern Lights.

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January 2012 Norway Northern Lights

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Comments

[Jodie10]

07:58 AM on 05/20/2012

This was amazing, you could see it all the way from Scotland in the UK www.solarpowercentre.com

[StephenJK]

01:09 AM on 03/11/2012

I am in Chicago and I'm also colorblind. So, I don't know if I was seeing anything related to this. But, I noticed very subtle "waves" in the atmosphere tonight. Slight color variations and striated throughout the sky. Very clear night w/ more stars than usual. Also saw Venus and Jupiter in the western sky setting as the moon rose in the south. I think Mars was also visible to the eastern sky. The midnight blue was a brighter shade than normal and if you looked very closely, you could barely see the ionospheric interaction with the CME's proton flood. Nothing like further north, I'm sure. But, maybe this morning we can get another better show.

[archeomoos]

11:19 PM on 03/10/2012

I am not sure that it is legal for the sun to do this to us. Is there not some sort of class action litigation that can be joined? I mean this is America...Lets litigate!! Why should we have to put up with beautiful sky displays if we don't want to? Aurora Boogernelus, what ever...As an American I should be able to make money on such a display and blame it on the liberal Democrats....Ad infinitum....

[AcesHighSays]

10:14 PM on 03/10/2012

One of the few times I wish I didn't live in a city (NYC)... I sometimes forget there are stars above my head.

[Karlin Scape]

07:47 PM on 03/10/2012

My granddaughter is named Aurora, just dont call her Borealis!!

[mamacat]

05:03 PM on 03/10/2012

The auroras were visible in Los Angeles in 1957 and 1938.

http://www.solarstorms.org/SRefStorms.html

[blackwind]

02:11 AM on 03/10/2012

If you missed that one, there's still hope for a good show tomorrow.

"According to analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, the [ latest] CME will arrive on March 11th at 0649 UT (+/- 7 hr). NOAA forecasters say the odds of a strong geomagnetic storm at that time is 50%."
http://www.spaceweather.com/

[Bgootz]

08:18 PM on 03/10/2012

the rest of this year is gonna be a doozy for solar storms... come to think of it, the rest of this year is going to be a doozy period!

[TopSecretWriter]

08:32 PM on 03/19/2012

It's only going to get better - 2013 is being noted as the peak of solar storms...looking forward to seeing what amazing atmospheric phenomenon take place.

[Lindsgrace33]

12:28 PM on 03/09/2012

If only I could see them from Florida...

[blackwind]

01:52 AM on 03/10/2012

Keep your eye on the forecasts; big solar storms make auroras that do go even that far down.

[Frank-Landfield]

10:21 PM on 03/08/2012

http://www.technologicvehicles.com/en/evenements-ecolos,salons,expos,conferences,courses/164/tour-de-france-electrique

[Ssufyerd Kaz]

09:44 PM on 03/08/2012

And there is also a full moon out tonight. Go figure.

[MissIndependent1962]

07:02 PM on 03/08/2012

my son is BS that it's cloudy and going to rain tonight. He says "we ALWAYS miss all the good stuff" LOL

[Raul Burt Axel Guardado]

07:02 PM on 03/08/2012

will i be able to see the lights in california?

[cerebrogasm]

07:51 PM on 03/08/2012

I'm in Vegas - I'd definitely drive out into the desert to see them - and try to photograph them as well - I just don't think we're in the right position to see the storms - from what I understand, solar "wind from the sun" gets caught up in the earth's magnetosphere - where it's most concentrated - at the poles.

[lindamom]

02:58 PM on 03/09/2012

I hear from my friends in the mountains where the stars always shine bright that maybe in way Northern Cali we can see them IF it's a clear night. I went out last night and saw the beautiful moon and only one star, everything else was dark. Will look again tonight but since I am at the coast, 80 miles S. of Oregon, it may not be feasible with cloud cover that is normal at night here.

[We the SHEEPle]

06:51 PM on 03/08/2012

While man paints with brush & canvas, Yahweh/God paints with molecules.

I'm in Michigan, not sure if we'll see them, but we'll keep looking up...

[1differentdrummer]

05:52 AM on 03/09/2012

When I was a kid we lived a few miles north of Lansing and we had the most awesome display of the Lights you could imagine. Absolutely stunning.

[Benjamin Aubert]

06:40 PM on 03/08/2012

It would have been so cool to see them tonight but the sky is so cloudy... I imagine that because of it, I won't be able to see them...

[Lexikewber123]

06:21 PM on 03/08/2012

Oh man! I would love to be able to see the northern lights, that would be amazing!