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Following a weekend northern lights display, there's still a chance to see them tonight

(3 weeks ago)
Nicole Mortillaro
Northern lightsCanadaScienceThe Sun

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Following a powerful geomagnetic storm over the weekend that caused widespread northern lights displays, there's still a possibility to see them on Monday night, though likely weaker. The forecast has 'lots of potential [and] lots of uncertainty' due to the tail end of a coronal mass ejection (CME) interacting with Earth's magnetic field.

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  1. 1 Last May/October: Previous strong northern lights displays.
  2. 2 Saturday: A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth, resulting in auroras.
  3. 3 Sunday: Northern lights show continued into daylight hours in Canada; Kp Index went as high as eight.
  4. 4 Early Monday: Kp Index fell to five.
  5. 5 Monday afternoon: Auroral oval was tipping south.
  6. 6 Monday night: Chance to see northern lights again.
  • Beautiful displays of northern lights
  • Potential for weaker displays
  • Uncertainty in forecasting
  • Visibility potentially hampered by smoke from forest fires
What: A possibility of seeing the northern lights (aurora borealis) on Monday night, following a powerful geomagnetic storm and widespread displays over the weekend.
When: Weekend (Saturday, Sunday), Monday night, early Monday, Monday afternoon. Previous displays in last May and last October.
Where: Canada (southwestern Ontario, Western Canada for forest fires), U.S., Airdrie, Alta.
Why: Particles from the sun carried by fast-moving solar wind, often due to a coronal mass ejection (CME), interacting with Earth's magnetic field. A CME hit Earth on Saturday.
How: Observing the Kp Index (strength of geomagnetic storm), checking if the auroral oval tips south, looking north for visibility, considering hampering factors like smoke from forest fires.

Following a powerful geomagnetic storm over the weekend that caused widespread northern lights displays, there's still a possibility to see them on Monday night, though likely weaker. The forecast has 'lots of potential [and] lots of uncertainty' due to the tail end of a coronal mass ejection (CME) interacting with Earth's magnetic field.