New northern lights tonight: where and when to watch?

The American NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has issued a warning regarding a solar storm with a coronal mass ejection directed towards Earth. This event is expected to generate visible northern lights starting this Monday evening in Europe and North America, as the solar cycle 25 approaches its maximum.


Solar region #3697 is particularly active with solar eruptions. These eruptions release charged particles that interact with Earth's magnetic field to produce northern lights. Bryan Brasher from NOAA predicts possible sightings as far south as Canada and some U.S. states, as well as across Europe.

To maximize the chances of seeing the lights, it is advisable to be in an area far from artificial lights and to look north between 10 PM and 2 AM, the period when the auroras are at their peak. Favorable weather conditions are essential for good visibility.

The last major geomagnetic storm in May already offered spectacular aurora views. As solar cycle 25 progresses, similar phenomena are expected until July 2025, highlighting the importance of monitoring space weather.

Interest in the northern lights has surged recently, with research on this phenomenon reaching record levels in May.

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)

A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a solar phenomenon where the Sun ejects a large amount of plasma into space. These ejections come from the solar corona, the outer layer of the Sun's atmosphere. When a CME is directed towards Earth, it can interact with Earth's magnetic field, causing geomagnetic storms.

These storms can have varied effects, including disrupting satellite communications, GPS systems, and even power grids. They are also responsible for creating the northern and southern lights, spectacular luminous phenomena generally observed at high latitudes, and occasionally at mid-latitudes.

CMEs are often associated with sunspots, darker and cooler regions on the Sun's surface where powerful magnetic fields are concentrated. When a sunspot releases accumulated energy in the form of a solar eruption, it can lead to a coronal mass ejection. These events are more frequent during the solar maximum, the peak period of the 11-year solar cycle.