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Northern lights possible across the US tonight and over the weekend as 4 CMEs head for Earth
Multiple CMEs could give the northern lights a boost across the northern US from Oct. 9, with further geomagnetic activity possible into the weekend.
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Just when you thought the sun might be taking a breather, it's unleashed another powerful eruption — and the northern lights forecast just got even more promising.
A fourth coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the sun on Oct. 8, during a powerful M-class solar flare from the restless sunspot region AR4549. That brings the number of CMEs potentially heading Earth's way to four, raising the possibility of further geomagnetic activity and aurora displays over the coming days.
Early analysis suggests the latest CME could potentially catch up with the third CME on its way towards Earth.
NOAA's aurora forecast suggests auroral activity could be enhanced across northern North America. Exactly how far south the aurora might appear remains uncertain and depends on how the incoming CMEs interact with Earth's magnetic field.
G2 geomagnetic storm conditions are forecast for Oct. 9 and during such storms, auroras have previously been observed as far south as New York and Idaho.
While northern U.S. states currently have the best prospects, skywatchers farther south shouldn't completely write off their chances just yet. With multiple CMEs approaching Earth in quick succession, there's still considerable uncertainty over how geomagnetic conditions will develop. If the incoming eruptions interact favorably with Earth's magnetic field, auroras could potentially reach much farther south than currently anticipated.
So if you're at mid-latitudes, make sure those aurora alerts are switched on and your camera batteries are charged. This could be an interesting few days for northern lights enthusiasts!
For real-time forecasts based on your location, consider using a space weather app. A great option is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts" (available for iOS and Android). For a deeper dive into space weather conditions, "Space Weather Live" is another excellent choice (available for iOS and Android)