BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley saw the aurora borealis a little earlier than expected Thursday evening.
The best viewing conditions were forecast to occur between about 8 p.m. and midnight, but the area's light show began around 7 p.m. Residents saw the northern lights from Palmer Township to Upper Milford Township and beyond.
The unexpected show arrived before experts said it might.
“The northern lights, associated with an unusually strong geomagnetic storm, could be visible across our entire area Thursday evening,” the National Weather Service in Mount Holly said on X.
Skies were expected to be clear across the area, with a frost advisory in effect from midnight to 9 a.m. Friday.
Not the first time this year
The viewing opportunity Thursday night was due to the second strongest geomagnetic storm of this solar cycle, according to NOAA.
The "severe" Earth-bound storm could potentially bring the aurora all the way into the southern United States, though locations in northern regions have a much better chance of visibility, experts say.
In southern areas — perhaps as far south as Alabama — the opportunity to see the aurora is best away from cities and major sources of light pollution.
The aroura borealis (northern lights) associated with an unusually strong geomagnetic storm could be visible across our entire area Thursday evening. The best viewing conditions are forecast to occur between about 8 PM and midnight. Skies will be clear! #PAwx #NJwx #DEwx #MDwx https://t.co/Wb7ZA3vOtU
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) October 10, 2024
It was not our first opportunity to see the aurora in Pennsylvania this year.
The northern lights wowed skygazers across the region in April, due to what meteorologists said was a “level 8 out of 9 episode” because of a coronal mass ejection, or massive storm on the sun.
Some people also saw the dancing lights again in May.
What causes the aurora?
According to experts, a surge of solar particles from the latest geomagnetic storm came from a large explosion of plasma from the sun’s surface that left the sun Tuesday evening.
NOAA said data showed the particles headed toward Earth at speeds of 750 to 800 miles per second.
The surge of particles was expected to extend into Friday.
It’s the second geomagnetic storm this week, after one brought the aurora into the northern tier of the United States on Sunday and Monday.
That “strong” storm (ranked 3 out of 5) was weaker than expected, experts said, but the aurora still was visible down to Maryland.
As an added bonus this week, skygazers also might be able to see a very rare comet in the night sky.
How rare?
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS last passed by Earth 80,000 years ago.
It was the subject of our latest ‘Watching the Skies’ with WLVR’s Brad Klein and Bethlehem’s "Backyard Astronomy Guy" Marty McGuire.
