Missouri – As most of you know, in the early days of May, the sun sent out solar flares giving people in southern Missouri a view of the Northern Lights.
There is a chance for us to see the Northern Lights again around June 5, 2024. The sunspot that was responsible for those solar flares is still giving off solar flares. When the sun finishes its 27-day rotation on its axis, those solar flares will be directed back at the earth’s surface.
NASA advises that the best way to see the lights is to seek areas with minimal light, meaning you should leave the city. You should be able to see the Aurora Borealis within an hour or two of midnight and the hours of the activity will continue throughout the night into the early morning hours as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.
In May the storm that caused such bright lights was rated at a G5, the highest level of geomagnetic storms. It is possible for us to reach such an intensity again, but not guaranteed.
The NOAA operates an “aurora dashboard” on its website which will provide people with a 30-minute advance estimation of where and when the Northern Lights will be visible.
