Latest news with #skywatching
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Northern lights will be visible tonight. Here's what that means for Arizona
The northern lights may be visible across parts of the U.S. on Monday, June 2, and potentially on Tuesday, June 3, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While visibility will be limited for much of the country, states near the Canadian border will have the best chances of seeing the aurora borealis. Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan are most likely to experience the aurora. Visibility is expected to decrease on Tuesday, especially outside of Alaska. If you live farther south — looking at you, Arizona — your invite to the aurora party got lost in the magnetic mail. Here is everything to know where the northern lights be visible. While visibility will be low for most of the country, Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have the highest chances of seeing the light show. There's even a slight possibility the aurora could stretch as far south as Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska Monday night. By Tuesday, visibility outside of Alaska drops, but some northern states could still catch a faint glimpse if skies are clear. The best time to view the northern lights tonight, Monday, June 2, is between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. This window offers the darkest skies, enhancing the visibility of the aurora borealis. Peak activity is anticipated around midnight, though exact timing can vary based on your location and local conditions. Once again, Arizona's left off the northern lights guest list, the northern lights will not be visible in Arizona tonight. The best months to see the northern lights are September through March, with peak viewing typically occurring in the heart of winter, from December to February. The northern lights are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with Earth's atmosphere. When the sun releases a burst of energy, known as a solar wind or coronal mass ejection, these particles travel through space and interact with Earth's magnetic field, according to Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Follow @tiffsario on Instagram. Looking for the best things to do in Arizona? Sign up for our newsletter. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here's where the northern lights will be visible tonight
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Science
- The Independent
The best places to potentially see the Northern Lights this week
Skywatchers in 15 states may be able to see the northern lights this week. The northern lights, which scientists call aurora borealis, are colorful displays that light the night sky. You usually hear about people traveling to Canada or even Iceland to see the lights, but they can also be viewed in the U.S., depending on where you live. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center has shared forecast maps showing 15 northern states from Alaska to Maine where locals may be able to see the aurora borealis Tuesday night and Wednesday night. Most of Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine are predicted to have the northern lights visible. Those in the northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire may also view the lights. Alaska residents have the highest likelihood of viewing the colorful display. The northern lights and the southern lights, also known as aurora australis, occur when energetic space particles collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, according to NASA. Auroras can appear in multiple colors from green-blue to purple-pink. The color of an aurora depends on the type of atmospheric gas that is hit and where the gas is located.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
When To See The Rare Sight Of Mercury Close To The Moon This Week
Stargazers are in for a rare celestial treat this weekend as the elusive planet Mercury makes a brief appearance beside a delicate crescent moon in the evening sky. Visible from just after sunset on Thursday, June 26 and Friday, June 27, this conjunction offers one of the best opportunities of the year to spot the tiny planet, which is usually lost in the sun's glare. Mercury will shine close to a crescent moon this week. getty To see the moon and Mercury together, skywatchers should look toward the west-northwest horizon about 45 minutes after sunset on both Thursday, June 26 and Friday, June 27. A clear view low to the horizon will be needed, as will clear skies. Be sure to start looking on time, as Mercury will quickly dip below the horizon. Mercury, though dim compared to the moon, will remain visible to the naked eye for those with a clear view of the horizon. Mercury is notoriously hard to spot. As the closest planet to the sun, it never strays far from our star from our perspective on Earth and is often lost in the brightness of twilight. Late on Friday, June 27, also sees the peak of the Boötid meteor shower, a minor meteor display during which a few shooting stars may be spotted coming from the constellation Boötes. Thursday, June 26: Crescent Moon, Mercury And Gemini Stellarium On Thursday, June 26, a slim waxing crescent moon, only 3.4% illuminated, will hang low in the sky between Mercury and the bright stars Castor and Pollux, the 'twin' stars of the constellation Gemini. The four celestial bodies will be within a few degrees of one another, forming a compact, eye-catching cluster that will be easy to see with the naked eye. On Friday, June 27, the moon will have grown slightly to a 9%-lit waxing crescent and will appear just above and to the right of Mercury. Friday, June 27: Crescent Moon And Mercury Stellarium Although it's Mercury that's the rare sight, on Friday, June 27, the crescent moon will be higher in a darker sky, making it easier to spot. It will also be arguably at its most beautiful, with its darkened face glowing faintly thanks to a phenomenon known as Earthshine — sunlight reflected from Earth's clouds, ice caps and oceans back onto the moon's night side. Mercury And The Bepicolombo Mission A joint mission by the European Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency, the BepiColumbo spacecraft will go intoorbit around Mercury in November 2026 to study its extreme temperatures, magnetic field and mysterious polar two spacecraft — ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter — they will separate from the chassis before they enter different orbits around Mercury. BepiColombo sent back images of Mercury after a brief flyby of the planet in January this year. Forbes In Photos: See Mercury's Craters In Rare Close-Ups After Final Flyby By Jamie Carter Forbes When To See June's 'Strawberry Moon,' The Lowest Full Moon Since 2006 By Jamie Carter Forbes NASA Urges Public To Leave The City For The Perseid Meteor Shower This Weekend By Jamie Carter
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
You may be able to see the Northern Lights in these 15 states this week
Skywatchers in 15 states may be able to see the northern lights this week. The northern lights, which scientists call aurora borealis, are colorful displays that light the night sky. You usually hear about people traveling to Canada or even Iceland to see the lights, but they can also be viewed in the U.S., depending on where you live. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center has shared forecast maps showing 15 northern states from Alaska to Maine where locals may be able to see the aurora borealis Tuesday night and Wednesday night. Most of Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine are predicted to have the northern lights visible. Those in the northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire may also view the lights. Alaska residents have the highest likelihood of viewing the colorful display. The northern lights and the southern lights, also known as aurora australis, occur when energetic space particles collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, according to NASA. Auroras can appear in multiple colors from green-blue to purple-pink. The color of an aurora depends on the type of atmospheric gas that is hit and where the gas is located.
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Science
- The Independent
You may be able to see the Northern Lights in these 15 states this week
Skywatchers in 15 states may be able to see the northern lights this week. The northern lights, which scientists call aurora borealis, are colorful displays that light the night sky. You usually hear about people traveling to Canada or even Iceland to see the lights, but they can also be viewed in the U.S., depending on where you live. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center has shared forecast maps showing 15 northern states from Alaska to Maine where locals may be able to see the aurora borealis Tuesday night and Wednesday night. Most of Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine are predicted to have the northern lights visible. Those in the northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire may also view the lights. Alaska residents have the highest likelihood of viewing the colorful display. The northern lights and the southern lights, also known as aurora australis, occur when energetic space particles collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, according to NASA. Auroras can appear in multiple colors from green-blue to purple-pink. The color of an aurora depends on the type of atmospheric gas that is hit and where the gas is located.
