Aurora Borealis Visible in Northern US Monday-Tuesday

Skywatchers across the northern United States have a chance to witness the aurora borealis illuminating the night sky on Monday and Tuesday evenings, driven by an incoming coronal mass ejection from the sun. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts geomagnetic storm conditions that could make the northern lights visible from Alaska to parts of New York, with the strongest displays expected after dark.

The event stems from a coronal mass ejection, a massive burst of plasma and charged particles, that erupted from the sun on December 6 following an M8.1 solar flare. These ejections travel toward Earth and interact with its magnetic field, potentially triggering geomagnetic storms. NOAA predicts minor G1 storm levels on Monday night, escalating to moderate G2 or strong G3 conditions by Tuesday. The Kp index, a measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 to 9, could peak at 6.67, allowing auroras to extend farther south than typical polar viewing areas. If the storm's southward Bz component strengthens, as monitored by space weather apps, the display might intensify, though outcomes remain uncertain due to the...