Norther Lights. Image credit: X/@joemill37087868
CMEDIA: The brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, would also be visible today on the earth facing side of the sun allowing another chance to see them on Friday night.
The aurora borealis or the northern lights will be a little more subdued than the last time it came around
Geomagnetic storms being rated by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on a five-point scale, is forecasting a moderate G2 storm peaking Friday, compared to the severe G4 storm in early May.
Nonetheless, lights over Canada and the northern Midwest United States to the night sky viewers might still be able to spot.
Aroras usually present as a milky green glow in the night sky when the sun emits a strong surge of solar wind from its corona called a coronal mass ejection (CME).
A geomagnetic storm is usually caused as a result of this gust of solar plasma disturbing the outer part of the Earth’s magnetic field.
With an ability to impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, strong geomagnetic storms can potentially disrupti communications, the electric power grid, navigation, as well as radio and satellite operations.
Flaring out from Active Region 3697 for about an hour on Wednesday morning, according to NASA, this CME is expected to reach Earth starting Friday afternoon, continuing through early Saturday morning.
While there is a low likelihood of spotting the northern lights along a path from Vancouver through to Winnipeg and Thunder Bay, Ont., according to the forecast, there is a higher likelihood in northern parts of the provinces and territories.
