The night sky is a magical thing. Here in Virginia, we’re blessed with an abundance of Dark Sky Parks that allow us to enjoy a magnificent array of stars, constellations, and meteor showers. And every once in a while…something truly magical happens. Meteorologists have predicted that it may be possible to see the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, from Virginia tonight. Experiencing this rare and awe-inspiring event from the mid-east is a once-in-a-lifetime event. And while nothing is guaranteed when it comes to solar activity, it may be worth putting on some layers and looking up at the night sky this evening.
The Northern Lights are a mystical phenomenon caused by solar wind passing through a magnetic field in the Earth’s atmosphere. When protons and electrons collide with particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, the result is a brilliant array of colors.
ImpossiAble / Moment / Getty Images
Most typically, the resulting colors are green, red, pink, and blue. Our eyes can’t pick up as many colors as a camera lens, but the effect is still magical.
Ingólfur Bjargmundsson / Moment / Getty Images
Typically, the Northern Lights can most easily be seen from Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Alaska. Yet due to a massive solar storm, a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is headed towards the Earth’s atmosphere at such a magnitude that a Northern Lights viewing may be possible as far south as Virginia.
Patrick J. Endres / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images
Of course, meteorologists have indicated that it’s nearly impossible to predict Northern Lights activity. Should they be visible from Virginia, they’ll be closer to the horizon, and not directly overhead.
Diana Robinson Photography / Getty Images
The exciting thing to remember is that it’s happened before! This photograph below was taken in Virginia in 2015, and you can see the beautiful Northern Lights dancing along the horizon.
davidmurr / flickr
As seen from the map below, Virginia falls right into the range of possible viewing (it’s above the furthest green band).
Geophysical Institute Of Alaska
If you planning on looking for the Aurora Borealis this evening, be sure to look towards the northern horizon and try to escape city lights as much as possible.
Dan Chen / EyeEm / Getty Images Also, if you plan on taking photographs, remember to set up your camera for a longer exposure. Your lens may be able to pick up activity that’s hard for the naked eye to process.
Have you ever seen the Northern Lights? Do you think you’ll check outside this evening to see if they’re visible from Virginia? Be sure to tell us all about it!
ImpossiAble / Moment / Getty Images
Ingólfur Bjargmundsson / Moment / Getty Images
Patrick J. Endres / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images
Diana Robinson Photography / Getty Images
davidmurr / flickr
Geophysical Institute Of Alaska
Dan Chen / EyeEm / Getty Images
Also, if you plan on taking photographs, remember to set up your camera for a longer exposure. Your lens may be able to pick up activity that’s hard for the naked eye to process.
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