Northern Lights 2024: Here’s When You May See The Next Aurora Borealis
The Northern Lights have recently caused dazzling displays across the U.S., and because solar activity has been busier than scientists expected
A celestial event called Solar Cycle 25—the cycle the sun goes through around every 11 years—has been the cause of geomagnetic storms that have resulted in recent sightings of the Northern Lights
Cycle 25 began in Dec. 2019, and it’s estimated it will reach its maximum—when activity is expected to peak—in July 2025, and it’s projected to peak with 115 sunspots
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Although the maximum hasn’t happened yet, the sun’s activity has been busier than scientists anticipated, so it’s possible there will be even more geomagnetic storms leading up to 2025
When the next aurora borealis does happen, the best hours to view are between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Northern Lights are shafts of colored light visible in the night sky. They’re created when the sun’s energized particles slam into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at high speeds.
Earth began experiencing a “historic” geomagnetic storm Friday, which trailed into the weekend. NOAA issued a warning for a second geometric storm on Tuesday