Latest news with #Skywatchers
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Did you miss the full Buck moon? Enjoy Friday's moon illusion thanks to Louisville's clearer skies
If you missed Thursday's full Buck moon shining over Louisville, not to worry! Friday night's moon will be shining at 99% illumination, according to NASA. Louisville residents also should have a fairly good view of the moon thanks to mostly clear skies, which can help with experiencing the "Moon Illusion." Here's what Kentucky skywatchers should know. Story continues after photo gallery. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Louisville area will happen by roughly 10:11 p.m. Friday, July 11, crossing the meridian at 2:12 a.m. before setting at 6:56 a.m. Saturday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. There's something neat that happens when the full moon is closer to the horizon; it looks HUGE. Especially when you glimpse it poking out above a treeline, mountains, buildings or bodies of water. But here's the thing: It's an optical illusion. The full moon isn't larger when it's near the horizon any more than when it's positioned directly overhead, writes NASA. Our brain tricks us into thinking the moon is bigger because of how we perceive its depth in relation to the other objects around it. This phenomenon is known as the "Moon Illusion." You can prove the illusion for yourself by changing the way you look at the moon: First, look at the full moon normally when it's close to the horizon. Next, gaze at it through a cardboard tube, blocking out everything except the moon. Or try looking at the full moon while upside down, which can be done if you bend over and look back between your legs, or, if you've got it in your yard, leaning over backwards while seated on a swing. In either case, the moon won't appear as big as it once seemed. July's full moon is going to appear lower on the horizon. The reason is that the Earth is in the midst of "a major lunar standstill," which has to do with the moon's orbit around the Earth. "It's all about the inclination of the moon's orbit, which undergoes an 18.6-year cycle," writes EarthSky's John Jardine Goss. "The cycle happens because the moon's orbit is being slowly dragged around — mostly due to the pull of the sun — every 18.6 years." Skies around the Louisville area are expected to be mostly clear Friday night with lows around 75 in the evening, according to the National Weather Service. Thursday, July 10 is when the full Buck Moon charges its way into the night sky, according to NASA. The moon's phases in July 2025 are: 🌓 First Quarter: July 2. 🌕 Full Moon: July 10. 🌗 Last Quarter: July 18. 🌑 New Moon: July 24. A male deer, or buck's antlers were in full growth mode around this time in July, writes the Old Farmer's Almanac. Other names for July's full moon from Native American tribes include the Salmon Moon, Thunder Moon, and Halfway Summer Moon. You may have noticed the moon occasionally takes on a dramatic shade of orange or red in the night sky. That's because of how sunlight strikes the moon's surface after passing through our atmosphere. When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface. Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange. The more dust or clouds in Earth's atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, the redder the moon appears. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Find a dark, safe spot out in the country where you can see more stars in the sky. If possible, head to Mammoth Cave National Park, roughly 90 miles south of Louisville, which is an International Dark Sky location and therefore a great place for stargazing. According to NASA, traces of the Milky Way will appear as a "faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south." If you plan on observing the sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for July 2025: July 21 & 22 – Moon, Venus & Jupiter – You can find the crescent moon and the planet Venus toward the east in the morning sky. With a clear view toward the horizon you can also spot Jupiter low in the sky. July 28 – Moon & Mars – The crescent Moon appears right next to Mars after sunset. All month – Constellation: Aquila – You can spot the Eagle constellation, Aquila, in the eastern part of the sky during the first half of the night, writes NASA. Its brightest star, Altair, is the southernmost star in the Summer Triangle, which is an easy-to-locate star pattern in Northern Hemisphere summer skies. All month – Milky Way core: The bright central bulge of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is visible all night through August. It is best observed from dark sky locations far from bright city lights, and appears as a faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south. The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. SkyView Lite for iPhone | Google Play Star Walk 2 for iPhone | Google Play Star Chart for iPhone | Google Play for iPhone | Google Play The full Sturgeon Moon should reach peak illumination by Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. When is the next full moon?: Dates for every one in 2025 and what time you can see them. John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@ Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Missed Thursday's full Buck moon? You can still enjoy the moon illusion
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Here are all the places in the US that you can see the northern lights tonight
People in some parts of the U.S. may be able to see the northern lights this evening. Weather permitting, residents of more than a dozen states could hit the jackpot, according to the most recent forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center - Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington, and New York. For the best chance to catch the phenomenon, skywatchers should head to areas away from light pollution at around 2 a.m. local time. However, auroras can be fickle, showing up in areas other than where they are expected. The dazzling display is caused by an incoming coronal mass ejection: a burst of plasma and solar material released by the sun and headed our way. The result of this celestial event is often a geomagnetic storm, which is triggered when the eruption travels through space and interacts with Earth's magnetic field. 'A G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for 02 Jul (UTC day) due to the arrival of a CME that left the Sun on 28 Jun,' the center said in a post on social media. Geomagnetic storms are what create the aurora borealis, which is light produced when particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere centered on Earth's magnetic pole. A G1 geomagnetic storm is the weakest on the scale of storms, which goes up to G5. In this minor storm, weak power grid fluctuations can occur, and a minor impact on satellite operations is possible. Stronger solar flares and coronal mass ejections can lead to radio blackouts and more severe spacecraft operation impacts, such as problems with orientation and tracking satellites. A radio blackout was observed earlier this month thanks to a strong flare. The sun is in what is known as its solar maximum period, meaning an increase in solar activity that has led to the most intense solar storm in decades and stunning displays of the northern lights across the country. Scientists have warned there may be 'much bigger' and disruptive storms en route in the coming years.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Here are all the places in the US that you can see the northern lights tonight
People in some parts of the U.S. may be able to see the northern lights this evening. Weather permitting, residents of more than a dozen states could hit the jackpot, according to the most recent forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center - Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington, and New York. For the best chance to catch the phenomenon, skywatchers should head to areas away from light pollution at around 2 a.m. local time. However, auroras can be fickle, showing up in areas other than where they are expected. The dazzling display is caused by an incoming coronal mass ejection: a burst of plasma and solar material released by the sun and headed our way. The result of this celestial event is often a geomagnetic storm, which is triggered when the eruption travels through space and interacts with Earth's magnetic field. 'A G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for 02 Jul (UTC day) due to the arrival of a CME that left the Sun on 28 Jun,' the center said in a post on social media. Geomagnetic storms are what create the aurora borealis, which is light produced when particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere centered on Earth's magnetic pole. A G1 geomagnetic storm is the weakest on the scale of storms, which goes up to G5. In this minor storm, weak power grid fluctuations can occur, and a minor impact on satellite operations is possible. Stronger solar flares and coronal mass ejections can lead to radio blackouts and more severe spacecraft operation impacts, such as problems with orientation and tracking satellites. A radio blackout was observed earlier this month thanks to a strong flare. The sun is in what is known as its solar maximum period, meaning an increase in solar activity that has led to the most intense solar storm in decades and stunning displays of the northern lights across the country. Scientists have warned there may be 'much bigger' and disruptive storms en route in the coming years.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Here are all the places in the US that you can see the northern lights tonight
People in some parts of the U.S. may be able to see the northern lights this evening. Weather permitting, residents of more than a dozen states could hit the jackpot, according to the most recent forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center - Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington, and New York. For the best chance to catch the phenomenon, skywatchers should head to areas away from light pollution at around 2 a.m. local time. However, auroras can be fickle, showing up in areas other than where they are expected. The dazzling display is caused by an incoming coronal mass ejection: a burst of plasma and solar material released by the sun and headed our way. The result of this celestial event is often a geomagnetic storm, which is triggered when the eruption travels through space and interacts with Earth's magnetic field. 'A G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for 02 Jul (UTC day) due to the arrival of a CME that left the Sun on 28 Jun,' the center said in a post on social media. Geomagnetic storms are what create the aurora borealis, which is light produced when particles from space collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere centered on Earth's magnetic pole. A G1 geomagnetic storm is the weakest on the scale of storms, which goes up to G5. In this minor storm, weak power grid fluctuations can occur, and a minor impact on satellite operations is possible. Stronger solar flares and coronal mass ejections can lead to radio blackouts and more severe spacecraft operation impacts, such as problems with orientation and tracking satellites. A radio blackout was observed earlier this month thanks to a strong flare. The sun is in what is known as its solar maximum period, meaning an increase in solar activity that has led to the most intense solar storm in decades and stunning displays of the northern lights across the country. Scientists have warned there may be 'much bigger' and disruptive storms en route in the coming years.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
A rare geomagnetic storm may bring northern lights to parts of Texas. See where
Skywatchers, take note: Heightened solar activity could bring the aurora borealis to parts of Texas this evening. A rare, severe geomagnetic storm is expected to trigger auroras, potentially making them visible to the naked eye in the northernmost areas of the state. Those farther south may still catch a glimpse using their cameras or phones. According to federal forecasters at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, past solar events of this strength have produced auroras visible as far south as the Gulf Coast. This weekend's geomagnetic storm is at G4, or severe, and is one of few storms of such magnitude since last year, when Texans got to see the spectacle as far as South Texas. The May 2024 event was the first geomagnetic storm to reach G4 magnitude since 2005. Visibility may be limited tonight for Texans, but the aurora forecast shows potential sightings as far south as the Austin-San Antonio area, and even Houston. More: Saharan dust to hit Texas just as storms clear. When to expect hazy skies in your area The auroras are a natural light display in Earth's sky that are famously best seen in high-latitude regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to gain energy. To return to their normal state, the particles release that energy in the form of light, according to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks Geophysical Institute website, which tracks the phenomenon. As auroras form, Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles through a process that produces a stunning display of rays, spirals and flickers that have fascinated humans for millennia. Whether hues of green, red, blue and even pink dance about in the sky depends on the altitude where the collisions occur, as well as the composition and density of the atmosphere at the time. Active geomagnetic storm conditions may persist into early June 2, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. The ongoing disturbance is driven by a coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth in the early hours of June 1, combined with high-speed solar wind flowing from coronal holes. Another CME is expected to arrive late on June 2, which could extend the storm's effects, followed by a much smaller one on June 3-4, according to The June 1 solar storm, traveling at approximately 1,938 km/s (about 4.3 million mph), was unusually complex — made up of material from multiple CMEs. As a result, its impact could continue for another 24 hours, reported. "We just entered what looks to be the 'core' of the first structure," space weather physicist Tamitha Skov told "Since this storm is made up of material from several CMEs compressed into one composite structure, there's a chance we'll see more than one 'core' signature. That means the show could continue to fade gradually over the next 24 hours." While this may cause temporary disruptions to technology and electronic communications, no major impacts are expected — except for the dazzling display of the northern lights. Fortunately, Earth is shielded by its magnetic field, an invisible barrier that protects us from solar winds, according to USA TODAY. When strong solar particles interact with gases in the atmosphere near the magnetic poles, they produce the vibrant colors of auroras. This activity coincides with the sun's approach to the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, known as the solar maximum — a period marked by increased sunspots. These magnetized regions on the sun's surface occasionally release stored energy in the form of solar flares, which NASA calls the most powerful explosions in our solar system. The heightened solar activity boosts the chances of witnessing celestial phenomena like the aurora borealis, which made appearances in the U.S. several times last year. However, it could also interfere with other skywatching events, such as meteor showers. Solar flares and wind can disrupt Earth's atmosphere, potentially obscuring meteor showers expected in 2025. This weekend, residents in the northernmost parts of Texas — particularly those in the Panhandle north of Amarillo — may be able to see the Northern Lights with the naked eye. A broader area, stretching from El Paso to the Louisiana border and as far south as the Austin-San Antonio region, could still catch the display through a camera lens. In especially strong geomagnetic events, the aurora can extend even farther south. According to USA TODAY, during a major event in 1958, the Northern Lights were visible as far south as Mexico City. The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time). These hours expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases. "Go out at night," NOAA said. "And get away from city lights." The agency also maintains an aurora dashboard that should help skygazers track the phenomenon. NOAA's 30-minute aurora forecast may be particularly useful for regular updates on viewing opportunities. Fox4 meteorologist Dylan Federico shared his own tips for capturing the auroras with your phone camera. "Use 10+ second exposure on your iPhone camera Sunday night for the best chance to see the auroras," he wrote on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Aurora Borealis forecast: Will northern lights be visible in Texas?
