minneapolis — After a disappointing Thursday night, some Minnesotans may be able to enjoy the northern lights again late Friday.
Conditions seemed ideal overnight, but it appears the solar wind wasn’t blowing strong enough.
WCCO meteorologist Joseph Dames said the chances of aurora borealis will change Friday night, with the southernmost chance moving north. And unlike Thursday night, many will be dealing with cloud cover.
The Northern Lights are usually visible from just after sunset until just before sunrise. For the best viewing experience, move to a location with a clear view to the north, far away from light pollution in populated areas.
Related: Astrophysicist explains why auroras are so difficult to predict
“Local streetlights can obscure the modest display,” said Brian Adams, Macalester College’s observatory manager.
The best views will be at the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the closest officially recognized International Dark-Sky Sanctuary.
Are the Northern Lights becoming more frequent in Minnesota?
the sun keeps running 11 year cycle, and 2025 was predicted to be the maximum of the solar storm cycle. but, 2023 has already exceeded the number of storms predicted for 2025. More solar storms increase the chances of auroras occurring.
What causes the aurora borealis?
According to NASAAuroras are caused by waves of charged particles emitted by the Sun, known as the solar wind.
When these charged particles come into contact with atoms and molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere, they create neon green waves, similar to the collision of electrons and neon gas in neon lighting.
Note: The original broadcast date of the video attached to this article is November 30, 2023.