Northern lights could be visible in Upstate NY tonight, Thursday

On September 6, 2017, scientists reported that a powerful solar storm could make the northern lights visible across several northern United States, including upstate New York, on the nights of September 6 and September 7. The storm was generated by a solar outburst that occurred on Labor Day, sending a coronal mass ejection toward Earth at an estimated speed of 200 miles per second.

A coronal mass ejection is described as a large explosion of magnetic field and plasma from the sun’s corona. According to reports at the time, the incoming particle mass was expected to trigger a G3 geomagnetic storm, though it was not anticipated to be exceptionally strong.

An experimental forecast map released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicated that the visible region of the aurora could extend as far south as Ohio and Indiana. The potential viewing area included northeast Montana, North Dakota, northeast South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. The Space Weather Prediction Center also noted a chance of visibility as far south as the Midlands in the United Kingdom, with higher likelihoods in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Viewing conditions faced some interference, as a full moon on Wednesday night was expected to dampen the display with its glare. To view the lights, experts recommended finding dark skies away from light pollution, looking north, and allowing at least 10 minutes for the eyes to adjust.