We might be lucky enough to witness the Northern Lights in Central Illinois tonight! A strong geomagnetic storm hit Earth earlier today, and now we just need to wait for the sun to set to catch a glimpse of the beautiful lights. The Northern Lights are formed when a significant amount of mass is ejected from the sun. Although only a small portion of these ejections are directed towards Earth, the charged particles rush towards us by following Earth’s magnetic field lines that point towards the poles.
Once some of these particles enter the atmosphere at the poles, they interact with atoms in the upper atmosphere. This interaction causes the atoms to become “excited,” meaning they are in a higher energy state. When the atoms return to their normal state, they release the excess energy in the form of a photon, which is a small bundle of energy that we perceive as visible light. During a Northern Lights event, billions of photons are released, creating the vibrant colors that we see under the right viewing conditions. Different types of atoms produce different colors of light.
To witness the Northern Lights, it is best to head to a dark location away from city lights and look towards the north. If your camera or phone has a night mode, it may help you capture the lights. However, due to the intensity of this storm, there is a possibility that the lights may be visible to the naked eye.
If you manage to capture any photos of the Northern Lights tonight, feel free to send us your pictures through our 25News First Alert Weather app! You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Stay connected to 25News for live news updates.
In addition to the information provided in the original article, it is interesting to note that the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are a natural phenomenon that has captivated people for centuries. The colors produced during an Aurora display are a result of the different gases in the Earth’s atmosphere interacting with the charged particles from the sun. The most common colors seen in the Northern Lights are green, pink, red, blue, and purple, each representing a specific gas in the atmosphere.
Furthermore, the occurrence of the Northern Lights is not limited to specific regions and can be seen in countries near the North and South Poles. People often travel to places like Norway, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska to witness the breathtaking display of lights in the night sky. The best time to see the Northern Lights is during the winter months when the nights are longer and darker, providing an optimal viewing experience.
Overall, the Northern Lights are a beautiful reminder of the wonders of nature and the incredible phenomena that occur in our world. Whether you are lucky enough to see them in person or through photographs, the experience is sure to leave you in awe of the magic that surrounds us.