If you live in Iowa and love watching the night sky, you might be in for a treat tonight. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a geomagnetic storm is expected to cause aurora borealis, or northern lights, to be visible in some parts of the US, including Iowa.
A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field caused by solar activity. When charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's atmosphere, they create colorful lights that can be seen near the poles. The intensity and location of the aurora depend on several factors, such as the strength and direction of the solar wind, the orientation of the Earth's magnetic field, and the season.
According to NOAA, a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME), associated with an M1 (R1-Minor) solar flare, was observed on 21 April. The CME is likely to cause G1 (Minor) to G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storming beginning late on 23 April to 24 April (UTC). This means that the aurora could be visible as far south as New York, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
To increase your chances of seeing the aurora tonight, you should find a dark and clear spot away from city lights. The best time to look is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. You should also check the aurora forecast from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) for updates and alerts.
Seeing the aurora is a rare and beautiful experience that you don't want to miss. If you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the northern lights tonight, don't forget to take some photos and share them with us!
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