The solar system is putting on its own New Year’s Eve show, with the northern lights potentially visible as far south as Oregon and Illinois on Dec. 31.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center issued a geomagnetic storm warning for New Year’s Eve that could bring the aurora borealis much farther south than usual.
The warning comes after several other solar storms made the northern visible to much more of the U.S. than typical in 2024.
The sun is currently in a period of solar maximum, where coronal mass ejections (CME) send plumes of plasma and magnetic field into space, triggering geomagnetic storm conditions to the Earth’s magnetosphere.
When CMEs come into contact with the magnetosphere, electrically charged particles collide with atmospheric gases and release energy that manifests as lights, giving us the colorful light show known as the aurora borealis.
Space weather is difficult to predict, but the lights may also be visible on Dec. 30. Hopeful skywatchers will also need the terrestrial forecast to cooperate, as the lights are best seen in clear skies.
For the best chance of viewing the natural light show, head outside to a place with as little light pollution as possible. If you’re struggling to see, your phone may help, as sensitive phone cameras can sometimes capture more of the lights than are visible to the naked eye.
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