You do n’t demand to be after a special holiday to see the Northern Lights live . If you know in the northern contiguous United States , the meteoric phenomenon may be visible from your backyard on Wednesday , February 27,Thrillistreports . Here ’s everything you need to know before catch the effect .
What are the Northern Lights?
Aurora Borealis , or the Northern Lights , are get bysolar particlescolliding with gases above Earth . When fast - moving electrons from the Sun hit the upper layers of the Earth ’s ambience , they oppose with oxygen and N by transfer some of their muscularity to the gas molecules and " exciting " them . The excited molecules finally reelect to their normal state and secrete photon into the air . On a large enough scurf , these photon appear as the undulating waves of green , pink , and violet light know as Aurora Borealis .
This phenomenon is mostly keep an eye on at the celestial pole because that ’s where the Earth ’s magnetic field is thestrongest , and therefore where engrossment of solar energy are highest . But occasionally people living at modest latitudes are treated to the spectacle , as should be the face this week .
Where and When to See the Northern Lights
Due to an coming geomagnetic storm , experts predict that the Northern Lights will look farther to the south than usual on February 27 . In the U.S. , northerly states like Montana , North Dakota , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , and Maine shine within the aurora ’s projected kitchen stove .
fit in to the Space WeatherPrediction Center , geomagnetic activeness will peak between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday . That imply the best time to see the northerly lighter is after the Sun has fully set in your domain on the night of February 27 . And if you miss the lights this time around , they ’re always aplane ride(or aluxury cruise ) aside .
[ h / tThrillist ]
