Rare Celestial Display Expected on New Year’s Eve: 17 U.S. States May Witness Northern Lights
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Northern Lights at New Year: These 17 U.S. States May See 2024’s Final Celestial Act
As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, a rare celestial spectacle is expected to light up the night sky – and if you’re in one of these 17 U.S. states, you might just get to witness it.
Aurora enthusiasts are gearing up for a potentially spectacular display of Northern Lights, as solar activity has been at a 23-year high throughout 2024. NASA and NOAA’s Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel recently announced that the sun had reached its “solar maximum” phase, marking the peak of its 11-year cycle.
This unprecedented level of solar activity could lead to more frequent and intense displays of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) in regions closer to the equator. Typically, these spectacular light shows are limited to polar regions around latitudes of 70 degrees north and south. However, during significant geomagnetic events – often triggered by rapid coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – the auroral oval can expand, allowing displays to be seen as far south as 25 degrees north and south of the equator.
In light of this forecasted solar activity, we’re tracking regions with high probabilities of seeing an extraordinary New Year’s Eve display. Below are 17 U.S. states that may potentially witness a spectacular Northern Lights show:
1. Alaska
2. Hawaii
3. Maine
4. Michigan
5. Minnesota
6. Montana
7. Nebraska
8. North Dakota
9. Ohio
10. Pennsylvania
11. South Dakota
12. Tennessee
13. Texas
14. Vermont
15. Washington
16. Wisconsin
17. Wyoming
To increase your chances of witnessing this rare event, follow these tips:
* Get to a location with minimal light pollution (e.g., national parks or dark-sky preserves)
* Find a spot with an unobstructed northern horizon
* Monitor weather forecasts and aurora alerts from reputable sources like NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center
By combining these strategies, you’ll be better equipped to track the action.
Source: www.forbes.com
