Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, may be visible in coming weeks due to sunspot interaction with Earth's magnetic field.
Historic geomagnetic storm on May 10-12, 2024 caused by multiple solar storms originating from sunspot AR3664.
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center reports potential for more such events in coming weeks.
In the coming weeks, skywatchers around the world may have another chance to witness a natural light show in the night sky: the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. According to multiple sources, a sunspot responsible for previous auroras has rotated back towards Earth and is interacting with our planet's magnetic field.
On May 10-12, 2024, a historic geomagnetic storm lit up the skies with vibrant colors as far south as Florida and Mexico. This rare event was caused by at least five solar storms that hit Earth simultaneously, all originating from a massive sunspot known as AR3664 (also called AR13664). The barrage of charged particles collided with Earth's magnetosphere, creating spectacular auroras over various parts of the globe.
Now, scientists predict that we may experience more such events in the coming weeks. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reports that there will be
The Aurora Borealis was seen in Wisconsin on May 11, 2024.
, Shruti Thaker had waited 20 years to see the Aurora Borealis and finally saw it in Milwaukee.
The appearance of the Aurora Borealis was due to a geomagnetic storm caused by bulk material from the sun hitting Earth’s magnetic field.
Accuracy
In early June, auroras may be visible again in Earth’s skies.
Northern Lights might be visible again in the next two weeks
Deception
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None Found At Time Of
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Fallacies
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The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when quoting Bryan Brasher stating 'You'll have great opportunities to see them in the next couple of years.' This statement is not a logical conclusion based on the evidence provided and is instead an opinion given by Brasher. However, no other fallacies were found in the article.
You’ll have great opportunities to see them in the next couple of years.
The best case scenario there, maybe the single is just not as strong, a little weaker, worst case scenario, you could have complete loss of signal for minutes.
In early June, auroras may be visible again in Earth’s skies.
AR3664 is set to reappear in late May/early June as the sun rotates and will be Earth-facing during the new moon on June 6.
Auroras may be visible at low latitudes if a large enough eruption occurs from the sunspot.
June 6’s new moon is 27 days after May 10, so aurora sightings are likely a few nights before and after that date.
Scientists suspect that the current cycle’s maximum may already be underway, hitting us sooner and harder than previously estimated.
Accuracy
The most powerful geomagnetic storm in over two decades occurred between May 10 and May 12, 2024, with auroras seen as far south as Florida and Mexico.
AR3664 is set to reappear in late May/early June as the sun rotates and will be Earth-facing during the new moon on June 6.
Auroras may be visible at low latitudes if a large enough eruption occurs from the sunspot.
Sunspots and their related solar flares become more frequent during the peak of the sun’s 11-year activity cycle, known as the solar maximum.
Northern Lights might be visible again in the next two weeks
Sunspot responsible for Aurora Borealis has rotated back towards Earth
Solar wind interacting with Earth’s atmosphere causes Northern Lights in polar regions
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
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Deception
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The article contains selective reporting as it only mentions the potential for another Northern Lights display without mentioning that such displays are common during the sun's peak cycle and occur frequently. The author also makes a statement about 'mass sightings on May 11' which is an exaggeration, implying that this was a rare event when in fact it is normal for the Northern Lights to be visible during this time.
Britons might get another chance to see the Northern Lights within the next fortnight due to a recurrence of a rare cosmic event,
Just because we're not seeing aurora across the whole of the UK, it doesn’t mean that we’re not going to see it in some areas.
The chances of the same sunspots doing the same thing again – It's probably quite slim.
Fallacies
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The article contains an appeal to authority and a potential dichotomous depiction. The author cites Professor Don Pollacco as an authority on the phenomena, which is not inherently fallacious but can border on it if the author relies too heavily on this single expert's opinion without providing other perspectives. Additionally, there seems to be a dichotomous depiction of either experiencing a repeat performance of the previous spectacle or having 'no aurora across the whole of the UK', which oversimplifies the potential outcomes. No other fallacies were found in the article.
According to Professor Don Pollacco...
Met Office space weather expert Krista Hammond told Kent Online...
Auroras filled much of the world's skies for several nights in mid-May as a historic geomagnetic storm coursed 100 kilometers above our heads.
ȣe Being able to see auroras so deep into the tropics was possibly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but there will almost certainly be more strong geomagnetic storms later this year.∾
ȣe We're quickly approaching solar maximum, the peak of our star's predictable 11-year cycle of activity.∾
ȣe Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are more common during and just after solar maximum, and they're responsible for vivid auroras.∾
ȣe The great aurora show on May 10, 2024, was the result of three CMEs that surged out of the sun's outer atmosphere and headed toward Earth.∾
ȣe AR3664 on May 10, 2024 was a collection of relatively cold and dark sunspots on the sun's surface that grew more than 15 times larger than the Earth itself.∾
ȣe The enormity of AR3664 was a major contributor to our generational aurora display.∾
ȣe Sunspots on May 22, 2024 rotated out of view, and new ones appeared soon after. This indicates that the sun's activity will be on the upswing over the next 18 months.∾
ȣe Scientists predict that we'll reach solar maximum in July 2025 with heightened activity continuing for a while thereafter, giving us more than a year and a half with better-than-normal odds of spotting auroras at lower latitudes.∾
ȣe Additional CMEs will likely produce spectacular auroras over Earth as we approach the maximum, especially in higher latitudes.∾
ȣe Knowing far in advance when auroras will appear isn't possible. Only once a CME or solar flare bursts forth from the sun can scientists then begin predicting its trajectory and potential impacts on Earth.∾
ȣe The Kp Index is a measure of geomagnetic activity as it relates to auroras, running from Kp 0 to Kp 9. Higher values indicate higher activity that can produce auroras farther away from the poles.∾
ȣe Values of Kp 3 are sufficient for vivid auroras over the far northern latitudes, while readings higher than Kp 5 begin to send the aurora deeper into Europe, Asia, and North America.∾
ȣe Out of more than a quarter of a million data points over the past 92 years, scientists have witnessed the Kp Index smack the top of the scale just 32 times.∾
ȣe Three instances occurred during this year's event in May, allowing millions of people around the world to witness incredible sights.∾
