Nature’s most spectacular light show might be coming back for an unexpected second act tonight. After yesterday’s powerful geomagnetic storm brought the northern lights deep into mid-latitude regions, space weather experts say we could see another round of auroras tonight and possibly into Sunday. The ongoing solar activity has created a rare opportunity for skywatchers across much of the United States.
The cause of this celestial spectacle is a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun that have been bombarding Earth’s magnetic field. These enormous clouds of charged particles, traveling at mind-boggling speeds approaching 2,000 km/s, create stunning auroras when they interact with gases in our atmosphere. According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the current storm conditions may persist through early Sunday morning.
Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov notes we’re currently experiencing the core of this complex solar storm, which actually combines material from multiple CMEs. While the intensity may gradually decrease, there’s still potential for impressive displays tonight. Another smaller CME expected late Sunday could provide additional viewing opportunities, though likely with less intensity. For aurora enthusiasts, this means keeping those cameras ready and eyes on the northern horizon after dark.
