Be on the Alert for Possible Aurora Saturday Night (April 24/25 2021)
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Credit: Tom Kroeker
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a alert saying G1 and G2 geomagnetic storms are likely from the Cornal Mass Ejection (CME) that left the sun on April 22. Based on the sudden change in solar wind speed at April 24th at 2307 UT the CME has arrived (more details from spaceweather.com).
Places as far south as the northern states could potentially see aurora Saturday night.
The two main factors on whether or not you can see aurora on any given night are the level of geomagnetic activity and where you are located. Of course weather and light pollution will also affect your ability to see aurora. More tips for viewing aurora can be found at the NOAA site.
The current UTC time:
Here are some forecasts that will help:
The OVATION Auroral Forecast from NOAA below shows probability of visible aurora at the current time. Be sure to reload if the image is not current. Day and night (dark) are indicated as well on the map to help you determine if the time is current.
Space Weather Canada also issues Regional Magnetic Conditions and Forecasts and has regional specfic forecasts. Below is the current conditions of geomagnetic activity. The higher the K value the better chance of seeing aurora.
The Space Weather Gallery has some stunning photos and particularly these “Pinkest of all pinks (Aurora)” photos from Markus Varik in Norway. Pink auroras are rare and occur when particles reach lower levels of the Earth’s atmosphere. See spaceweather.com for further information.
We will update this page as new information becomes available.
