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Impressive northern lights should once again set the sky alight on Saturday May 11.
NATURE – The show has only just begun! Impressive northern lights are expected to set the sky ablaze again on Saturday May 11, the consequences of a solar storm. extreme ” which began hitting Earth at the start of the weekend.
Conditions linked to a level 5 geomagnetic storm, the maximum level on the scale used, were observed Friday evening, the American Oceanic and Atmospheric Observation Agency (NOAA) said on Saturday on X. The agency adds that the storm is expected to continue at least until Sunday, with additional ejections from the mass of the solar corona, or plasma bubbles expelled by a strong solar wind.
“Conditions are still good” to observe this atmospheric spectacle, adds Fabrice Mottez, researcher (CNRS) at the Paris Observatory to Actu.fr. The scientist estimates that the alert level for geomagnetic storms this Saturday is level 4, meaning a high probability of seeing the Northern Lights but perhaps a little less intense than the day before. On X, meteorologist Guillaume Séchet indicates that the intensity of the storm would be rather level 3 this Saturday evening.
In any case, the probability of seeing the sky turn into pretty colors again this evening is high. To increase your chances of witnessing this stunning spectacle, HuffPost gives you advice from specialists.
• Find the right spot and look towards the North
First of all, the Northern Lights are a phenomenon that is difficult to predict, so it is impossible to give you an exact timetable so as not to miss them. Observing the sky at the start of the night is undoubtedly the best technique.
To increase your chances, also choose a location far from light pollution, in other words, as far away from cities as possible, explains Sébastien Frank, vice-president of the STM67 meteorology forecasting association in Alsace News.
“ As it is a luminous phenomenon which occurs in the atmosphere, it is not necessary to climb to altitude to avoid the turbulence of this same atmosphere.adds Patrice Arnal, member of the Astronomical Society of France, Alsace group, to our colleagues.
Once you’ve found the right spot, cross your fingers for good weather and clear skies. On Twitter, the astrophysicist at the Côte d’Azur Observatory, Éric Lagadec, finally insisted in February on an important point so as not to miss them: ” look towards the northern horizon “.
• Understand what you are looking at
Have you ever wondered why the Northern Lights are sometimes red or green? It’s all about altitude, as you can see on the diagram below. For example, the red Northern Lights are visible more than 241 km from the ground.
This color change is due to the content of the gas ” excited “ by the solar wind. It is most often oxygen that gives the auroras their green and red colors. When it is nitrogen, the auroras will often be blue or purple.
• Take beautiful photos
To immortalize the memory of this phenomenon which only occurs every 10 years in France, you can also try to photograph the Northern Lights. On X, the photographers advise you to take your photos in “ long exposure “. At night, this will capture more details.
Thierry Chevillard, photographer, explains his method on X, as you can read in the tweet below. A lens aperture as wide as possible is optimal according to him for taking superb photos.
Besides the technical aspects, another important parameter is that of the location, you must be located as far away from artificial lights as possible, explains another photographer who dedicated an article to photos of the Northern Lights. Now it’s your turn !
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