Where To See Aurora Tonight As Space Storms Hit Earth

Geomagnetic storms are set to buffet the Earth tonight, potentially creating the breathtaking Norther Lights over parts of the U.S. A pair of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are expected to hit Earth's magnetic fields on April 16, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), or the evening of April 15 in the United States. CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere. They can travel up to 1,800 miles per second, and expand in size as they propagate away from the sun, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The geomagnetic storms caused by tonight's CMEs are anticipated to produce aurora over parts of North America which will be best viewed just after sunset or just before sunrise. Specifically, according to NOAA projections, there will be a strong likelihood of aurora directly over Canada and Alaska, spreading across to Greenland, and brushing the northern U.S. states.

However, the aurora does not have to be directly overhead to be visible: it can be observed from more than 600 miles away if the aurora is bright enough, and weather conditions are right. It means the likes of Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin are among the states with the highest chance of catching a glimpse at the phenomenon. The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, form when particles from solar wind cause atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere, rich in oxygen and nitrogen, to glow. They can vary in color depending on the species of atoms being ignited, but tend to give off a green hue from oxygen, and a blue, pink and purple light from nitrogen in the atmosphere. The geomagnetic storms causing a high likelihood of aurora tonight will continue into April 16, United States time, though the likelihood of visible northern lights will decline. Those in Alaska and parts of Canada, however, will still be the most likely to catch another bout of Aurora on April 16. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about space? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.