Severe Solar Storm May Illuminate Northern Lights Over New York City

A severe geomagnetic storm, classified as G4, is expected to impact Earth around midday Wednesday, potentially making the northern lights visible in New York City and other parts of the United States.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a G4 geomagnetic storm watch, indicating that auroras could be visible as far south as Alabama and Northern California.

Amie Gallagher, planetarium director at Raritan Valley Community College, explained that the sun's activity can lead to coronal mass ejections, which, upon interacting with Earth's magnetic field, result in the aurora borealis. She noted that the colors observed—such as pink and green—are due to oxygen interacting with charged particles, while blues and purples are the result of nitrogen excitation.

In urban areas like New York City, light pollution may hinder visibility. However, Gallagher suggested that smartphone cameras, with their sensitivity and ability to keep the lens open longer, might capture the aurora even if it's faint to the naked eye.

NOAA cautioned that the geomagnetic storm could also disrupt communication infrastructure, including satellites, GPS systems, and power grids.

For optimal viewing, experts recommend finding a dark location with a clear view of the northern horizon between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.