This week, we looked up at the sky to see the Fourth of July fireworks. Next week – and maybe this weekend – you might catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
South Dakota is one of 17 states that may be able to view the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, as they appear in the sky over the next several days.
This is not the first time this year that the natural luminous phenomenon has appeared here. In late April, a geomagnetic storm created lights that were displayed in more than 30 US states including South Dakota, Iowa and Kansas. It may appear in the sky next Thursday, July 13, in more than 12 states.
Where can the northern lights appear in South Dakota?
If the weather is clear on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9, the northern lights may be low on the horizon over most of the upper half of the state. Next week, nearly the entire state may see the northern lights low on the horizon on Wednesday, July 12. But Thursday, July 13, is expected to be South Dakotans’ best chance to see the lights in the sky, according to the A.J. weather forecast from the Fairbanks Institute of Geophysics at the University of Alaska.
What time will the northern lights be visible?
The best chance to see the Northern Lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time says the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. People interested in viewing should stay away from city lights and light pollution to have a better chance of seeing it.
The higher the geomagnetic activity, the brighter the aurora borealis. As July 13 approaches, NOAA will be monitoring activity and Release their own forecast.
Northern lights in 17 states:Here’s where you can watch them next week.
Where else can the northern lights be seen?
Here are the other states that may see the northern lights next week:
- Alaska
- Indiana
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- who
- Maryland
- New York
- New Hampshire
- Washington
- Vermont
- Idaho
- Oregon
- Wyoming
When was the last major northern light even in the United States?
The possibility of seeing the northern lights comes after a geomagnetic storm, the last of which was in late April, when the aurora borealis shone over 30 US states. Lights appeared in parts of Iowa, North Dakota and Kansas, among others.
What is the aurora borealis?
The aurora borealis, also known as the aurora borealis, is an astronomical phenomenon in the northern and southern hemispheres in which colored lights appear in the night sky.
While they are more frequent near the north and south poles, they have also been seen near the equator. It can be seen by looking in the direction of the nearest pole (north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern hemisphere), according to Library of Congress.
What causes the aurora borealis?
The natural phenomenon is usually caused by the solar wind coming from the sun and the Earth’s magnetic field, according to NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
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