Topline
The Northern Lights could be visible again from some northern states on Sunday night and in the coming days, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as the effects of coronal mass ejections arrive and interact with Earth in the coming days.
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Key facts
Forecasters at NOAA predicted a Kp index of five out of nine for Sunday evening, meaning the Northern Lights could appear further south, with increased brightness and activity, including “movement and formation.”
Earth could also see the effects of small geomagnetic storms caused by the arrival of coronal mass ejections, NOAA said in its latest three-day space weather forecast.
What are coronal mass ejections?
Coronal mass ejections are bursts of plasma and magnetic field that escape from the Sun’s corona, or outermost layer of the atmosphere, according to NOAA. These ejections are usually much more powerful than regular background solar winds, and often occur alongside solar flares. When these emissions interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they can create geomagnetic storms, making the Northern Lights visible farther south than normal, including in the lower 48 states.
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