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People all over the country have been treated to some incredible sights in the sky so far this year. From the total solar eclipse to the reappearance of the famous "devil comet" and the beautiful northern lights, there have been some amazing celestial displays. And now, there is a possibility that we may witness a rare and extraordinary event - the appearance of a brand new star in the night sky for the first time in about 80 years.
There is a high likelihood that we will be able to witness the beautiful natural phenomenon known as the northern lights once more this summer.
In May, there were powerful solar storms that caused the northern lights to be visible as far south as Florida and Hawaii. These areas usually don't get to see the aurora.
Many parts of the United States have not had the chance to witness the aurora borealis in the sky lately, but that might be about to change.
Why Do Northern Lights Appear?
Solar storms, like solar flares and coronal mass ejections, are responsible for creating the northern lights. Coronal mass ejections involve bursts of plasma and magnetic material being ejected from the sun into space.
When the material moves in the correct path, it can meet Earth's magnetic field. This causes particles to move towards the North and South Poles. These particles mix with the gases in our atmosphere, producing extra energy that turns into flashes of light, which we call the aurora.
The distance the northern lights can be seen in the United States is determined by the intensity of geomagnetic storms. When these storms are stronger, the aurora can be visible farther south.
Recent High Activity Of Northern Lights
The recent displays of auroras we have witnessed are mainly a result of our position in Solar Cycle 25. When the sun goes through these cycles, it switches its poles. When it reaches the highest point of the cycle, the sun becomes much more active.
This year, we found the biggest solar flare in a long time, and there have been more since then. On June 23, an M9.3 flare was seen in the same area that has had six X-class flares. Flares are rated in four classes, starting from B, then C, M, and lastly, X. Regrettably, it was not predicted that the flare would cause the aurora borealis to appear in the United States.
The most exciting thing? It looks like Solar Cycle 25 is still on the rise.
It might take us a while longer before we reach solar maximum, according to Mark Miesch, a scientist at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, as reported by Nexstar. Solar maximum refers to when we observe the highest number of sunspots or the peak energy flux of specific radio waves.
However, Miesch sees solar maximum as a time when activity levels are increased.
"He compared it to a hurricane season in space," he said. "According to this explanation, solar maximum could go on for approximately 2 years or longer. If we define solar maximum in this manner, I would argue that we are currently experiencing it and it is expected to last until the end of 2024 and possibly into 2025."
Can We Expect More Northern Lights?
According to Miesch, there will be an increase in powerful solar storms for the remainder of this year, as well as in 2025 and possibly even into 2026.
Even though the SWPC and scientists globally monitor the sun and attempt to forecast any potential impact on Earth, predicting when CMEs will reach us is challenging. It only becomes clearer once CMEs are less than 1 million miles away from our planet, but by then, the warning time is only around 15 to 45 minutes.
If the forecasts are accurate and the solar activity remains high in the upcoming months, there is a possibility that some people in America will be able to witness the northern lights soon. It remains to be seen if they will appear in locations like Florida and Hawaii. Stay tuned for updates.
