Northern lights could be visible in NY, VT & NH this weekend

If you have clear skies overhead this weekend, you might want to look up to see if the northern lights are visible.Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there's a good chance of a geomagnetic storm Saturday, which could push the aurora much farther south than usual.>> Aurora forecast: NOAA 30-minute forecastIt's possible that the aurora will be visible in northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and other northern states.The aurora is caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. In some cases, the sun can send stronger streams of particles toward Earth, intensifying the aurora.>> See the aurora? Send us your pictures!Astronomers said a coronal mass ejection recently erupted from the sun's surface. The charged material from that event is expected to hit the Earth's magnetic field Saturday.To see the aurora, find a place with clear, dark skies and look to the north. The moon is close to full, so it will be very bright in the sky this weekend, making viewing more difficult.If the aurora is visible, it might appear as streams of green, yellow or pink light.The best opportunity to see the aurora will be late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.The color of the aurora depends on the types of atmospheric gas the particles hit and the altitude of the collisions. Oxygen gives off a green glow, the most commonly seen color, when it interacts with particles about 60 miles high. At higher altitudes, it gives off a red glow. Nitrogen produces blue and purple light.

If you have clear skies overhead this weekend, you might want to look up to see if the northern lights are visible.



Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there's a good chance of a geomagnetic storm Saturday, which could push the aurora much farther south than usual.


>> Aurora forecast: NOAA 30-minute forecast

It's possible that the aurora will be visible in northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and other northern states.

The aurora is caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field.

In some cases, the sun can send stronger streams of particles toward Earth, intensifying the aurora.

>> See the aurora? Send us your pictures!

Astronomers said a coronal mass ejection recently erupted from the sun's surface.

The charged material from that event is expected to hit the Earth's magnetic field Saturday.

To see the aurora, find a place with clear, dark skies and look to the north.

The moon is close to full, so it will be very bright in the sky this weekend, making viewing more difficult.

If the aurora is visible, it might appear as streams of green, yellow or pink light.

The best opportunity to see the aurora will be late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

The color of the aurora depends on the types of atmospheric gas the particles hit and the altitude of the collisions.

Oxygen gives off a green glow, the most commonly seen color, when it interacts with particles about 60 miles high.

At higher altitudes, it gives off a red glow. Nitrogen produces blue and purple light.