This June, the Northern Lights could make a rare appearance across parts of the United States. This spectacular natural light show, typically visible in polar regions, might be seen further south due to unusual solar activity, offering a unique opportunity for skywatchers.
Northern Lights Could Be Seen In US In June
The same Northern Lights display that lit up the skies, including over Florida, earlier this month could be visible again in June. Between May 10 and May 12, Earth experienced its most powerful geomagnetic storm in over two decades, creating auroras from Florida to Mexico.
Extremely rare #aurora sighting in #Florida!!
G5 magnetic storm (the strongest since 2003) has resulted in northern lights being visible in most states tonight. This is how it looked in Sebring, Florida! It definitely shows up better in long exposure photos, but worth a walk… pic.twitter.com/pUF21bDrpr
— Paul Dellegatto⚡️FOX (@PaulFox13) May 11, 2024
These solar storms originated from a massive sunspot known as active region 3664, a dark area on the sun over 15 times wider than Earth, according to LiveScience. This sunspot, although temporarily out of view due to the sun’s rotation, is expected to return to Earth’s view in early June.
Active region 3664, also referred to as AR3664/AR13664 will face Earth again during the new moon on June 6, creating a window of opportunity for solar flares. The sunspot has continued to emit solar flares, with the most recent and strongest one since September 2017 occurring on May 20.
Floridians and others hoping to witness the rare aurora borealis should monitor space weather updates from agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
