WGOLV.COM - By LoriLee - A strong CME is expected to hit Earth Saturday evening, according to NOAA.
Aurora borealis may be visible with the naked eye as far south as Northern PA, according to PA Weather Action with much better viewing through long-exposure photos.
Cloud cover and light pollution could play a major role in what we can see.
Photo taken in Luzerne County Friday evening between 11:10 and 11:20 pm.
By Carol Meckes
A maximum KP of 7.00 is predicted from 10 PM Saturday to 1 AM Sunday. This timing is perfect as the last daylight occurs just before 8 PM on the US East Coast.
The Best viewing time is estimated to be between 9 PM – 2 AM, with bursts and low periods of activity throughout, according to PA Weather Action.
Throughout Pennsylvania, clear skies will dominate, with just a few clouds expected in the Northern Poconos and the far Southwest. Additionally, we will experience a last-quarter moon tonight, which will be 48% illuminated.
AURORA BOREALIS FORECAST FOR SATURDAY NIGHT
With a KP of 7.00, the view line is along just north of I-80 and the 40° north latitude line across the US. This forecast is for viewing aurora with your eyes, rather than through a long exposure photo. - We have a low chance of being able to "see it", according to Josh of Adams of PA Weather Action.
Adams says you may see photos and wonder why you couldn’t see what others saw, and it’s because those photos are taken through a camera that captures the maximum light exposure over the span of 3-15 seconds, through a lens that is extremely sensitive to light.
Still, many people enjoy capturing the northern lights with their cameras! This forecast is for Saturday night’s aurora viewing.
SATURDAY NIGHT’S AURORA VIEWING FORECAST
This special forecast map from PA Weather Action takes into account cloud cover, light pollution, and KP index to give you the best idea of where to view the northern lights.
PA Weather Action - Aurora View-Cast
The map above was made with the assumption the solar storm will impact Earth on Saturday evening. If it does not, aurora will not occur tonight, according to Adams.
Area A: Clear skies, a half moon, no light pollution, and an expected KP of 7.00 will result in fantastic aurora viewing conditions tonight mainly through the camera lens.
Area B: Clear skies, a half moon, low light pollution, and an anticipated KP of 7.00 will bring a great opportunity to capture aurora through your camera lens tonight.
Area C: Partly cloudy skies or light pollution, depending where you are, will cause suboptimal aurora viewing conditions. We suggest traveling to a nearby area with more favorable conditions.
This only happens a few times a year in a solar maximum, according to Adams - so make sure to let your family and friends know!
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