At this time, the northern lights activity is at its highest

A busy series of northern lights activities will soon reach their peak as the sun reaches its solar maximum in the coming months.

Several regions across the United States were treated to a colorful light spectacle earlier this week due to increased solar storm activity. Images show the Aurora Borealis display stretched as far south as Arizona, Mississippi and Texas on Monday.

The event followed other sightings in the US in May and January. The chances of seeing the Northern Lights are expected to increase in the coming months.

How do the Northern Lights form?

Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field reaches its solar maximum, during which the number of solar flares is at its highest, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather and Prediction Center.

The Northern Lights are created when atoms and molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere collide with a solar flare, causing the atoms in the upper atmosphere to glow and creating a spectrum of colors in the night sky.

Earth is currently approaching the peak of solar cycle 25, during which more sunspots with intense magnetic activity are expected, according to NOAA. Severe space weather events are possible in 2024.

The current cycle is expected to peak between November 2024 and March 2026, according to NOAA. Scientists say northern lights activity will be increased during this time.

After the end of the solar maximum, the sun’s magnetic field balances out and returns to normal.

Where can you see the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are visible – usually at the poles – when the solar flares penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field through space. The northernmost states of the United States, such as Maine and Alaska, are the best places to view them.

Depending on the strength of the geometric storms, the lights can be seen closer to the equator. However, the further south you go, a redder hue is visible rather than green. This is because the curvature of the Earth causes the particles to interact higher in the atmosphere.

The Space Weather Prediction Center advises stargazers to stay away from city lights and go to a dark location for the best viewing.

According to NOAA, the best time is usually one to two hours after midnight.

According to scientists, predicting when the Northern Lights will appear is notoriously difficult. According to Michigan Technological University, auroras can often appear with as little as 30 minutes’ warning. Researchers typically use satellites to measure the speed and density of the solar wind to predict when conditions are right for the Northern Lights to appear.

On Thursday, the Northern Lights could be visible from Fairbanks to Unalakleet, Talkeetna and Tok in the south in Alaska, according to the website of the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, which tracks the phenomenon.

According to NOAA, severe geomagnetic storms have the potential to disrupt navigation systems by affecting radio and GPS signals, as well as power grids due to the subatomic particles that bombard the Earth.