Strong Chance Of Seeing Aurora In These States This Weekend
Forbes • • business
Key Points:
- A geomagnetic storm expected Friday and Saturday nights could make the aurora borealis visible as far south as the northern United States, with the Kp index reaching nearly six.
- NOAA forecasts a chance to see the northern lights in states including Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan, with a higher likelihood in much of Alaska.
- If the storm intensifies to a G2 level, the visibility range could extend further south to states such as Oregon, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
- The optimal viewing window is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, ideally from a high, north-facing location away from light pollution.
- For photography, smartphone users should use night mode or Pro mode with flash off and shoot in RAW format, while camera users should set a wide aperture (f/4 or less), focus to infinity, and use a tripod for stability.