After two nights of spectacular northern lights displays, parts of Michigan could be set for another dazzling aurora Thursday night, Nov. 13, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) forecast.
The view line on SWPC’s dashboard map shows people in up to nine states could see the northern lights, or aurora borealis, Thursday night. Michiganders as far south as West Branch, Cadillac and Manistee may be able to see the glowing lights in the night sky to the north, NOAA says.
Local National Weather Service offices forecast partly or mostly clear skies across much of the region, except for mostly cloudy skies in the far eastern UP, with a slight chance of showers in Sault Ste. Marie. Best viewing occurs in a dark, open area under clear skies, experts advise.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the aurora was visible over wide swathes of the U.S.: Even people as far south as Florida were able to take photos of the phenomenon.
NOAA says a G0 geomagnetic storm, a worldwide disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field, is expected to produce a Kp index of 4 on Thursday night.
Kp is an index used to indicate the severity of the global magnetic disturbances in near-Earth space, NOAA said. Kp ratings increase from zero to 9. An index of 5 or greater typically means the northern lights may be visible across Michigan.
NOAA is predicting minor geomagnetic storm impacts.
The Earth was struck with a G4 storm earlier this week with Kp readings reaching nearly 9.
Here’s what to know about the northern lights forecast.
When will the northern lights be visible?
The northern lights could be visible over northern Michigan and the UP Thursday night, Nov. 13, according to the SWPC forecast.
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are waves of light created when the solar wind strikes the atmosphere, creating a display of moving lights in the night sky.
Auroras typically appear in a range of colors, including greens, pinks and reds, often featuring several shades of these colors.
Which states could see the northern lights?
The NOAA says the red view line marks the southernmost extent where aurora might be seen on the northern horizon.
The view line for Nov. 13 includes parts of the following states:
Why do the northern lights have different colors?
The color of the aurora depends on which gas is being excited by the electrons and on how much energy is being exchanged, NASA said.
Oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light (the most familiar color of the aurora) or a red light; nitrogen generally gives off a blue light. The oxygen and nitrogen molecules also emit ultraviolet light, which can only be detected by special cameras on satellites.
Where are Michigan’s best spots for dark sky viewing?
Look for a clear, open area to best view the aurora borealis in Michigan’s skies. Michigan is home to six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks and an international dark sky sanctuary.
Can’t see the northern lights? Use your phone
If you’re having trouble seeing the northern lights with the naked eye, try using your phone camera in night mode and hold still while capturing the photo. You might be surprised at what’s dancing in the sky.
How do I use night mode on an iPhone?
On supported iPhone models, night mode automatically brightens photos and captures more detail in low light. While your iPhone sets the exposure time automatically, you can adjust it manually if needed.
What to do:
What is the corona?
The corona is the sun’s outermost atmosphere. The name comes from the Latin word for crown. The area of plasma, or highly ionized gas, extends thousands of kilometers above the sun’s visible surface, called the photosphere. The region is much hotter than the sun itself with temperatures ranging from 1 million Kelvin (1.7 million degrees Fahrenheit) to more than 10 million degrees K, the National Solar Observatory said.
The Lansing State Journal contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Could northern lights shine 3 nights? What to know in Michigan
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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