Parts of the United States could see quite the light show Monday night as the largest solar radiation storm takes places over the past twenty years. Nevada and California are on the border of viewing the Northern Lights Monday night, but areas south could still see it with their phones or cameras. Both solar and geomagnetic storms are rated one through five, with five being the strongest.
A magnitude four solar and geomagnetic storm were observed earlier today. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, the last time there was a S4 storm was in 2003. To view the lights get away from clouds, pollution, and bright lights. It needs to be dark in order to see it.
The Aurora works along side solar storms and solar coronal holes. When there is a solar storm more charged particles are being emitted by the sun than normal and travel through space towards earth. The earth has a magnetic shield, protecting us from most solar particles, but every once in a while, during a solar storm, these particles are able to reach the earth’s poles.
The collision between the sun’s charged particles and the earth’s atmosphere creates a chemical reaction leading to different colors. Oxygen creates a red or green light, and Nitrogen leads to a pink or blue light.
The Northern Lights are usually best seen around midnight.
