Keep your eyes on the sky. That’s probably always good advice, as you never know what you might spot, especially in West Virginia. But it might be especially important over the next few nights, as, thanks to a recent strong solar storm, as there’s a chance that the northern lights could be visible as far south as West Virginia over the next few days!
Auroras, otherwise known as the northern lights, are the result of disturbances in the earth’s magnetosphere caused by solar wind.
Harriniva Hotels&Safaris/Wikimedia
These disturbances are sometimes strong enough to change the paths of charged particles in both the solar wind itself and the magnetosphere. These particles, mainly electrons and protons, then collect in the upper atmosphere.
FairbanksMike/Wikimedia
The resulting ionization and excitation of these tiny charged particles can then emit light of varying color and complexity in the sky far above.
Skybluesally/Wikimedia
Such displays are usually visible only in the polar regions, but they do rarely travel further south.
NASA/Wikimedia
It’s not often, though, that West Virginians can see the northern lights; it requires the highest level of geomagnetic activity (Kp values of 7 to 9). This week’s solar storm has the potential to reach that level.
NOAA/Wikipedia
Watch for it on the low northern horizon throughout the nights of Thursday and Friday of this week (the storm is expected to peak Wednesday afternoon, but it’s not yet known exactly how the light display will pan out in our region, or if we’ll be able to spot any of these famed northern lights).
Brocken Inaglory/Wikimedia
Will you be out looking for the northern lights at all over the next few nights? Have you ever been able to spot them in West Virginia before? Let us know if you get a glimpse, and if so, where and when you saw them!
Harriniva Hotels&Safaris/Wikimedia
FairbanksMike/Wikimedia
Skybluesally/Wikimedia
NASA/Wikimedia
NOAA/Wikipedia
Brocken Inaglory/Wikimedia
Wondering where the best chance to see them in our state might be? Try this extra dark, extra good vantage point.
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