Northern Lights Visible Wednesday Night Across Long Island and New Jersey

Aurora Borealis Explained

• 💡 The northern lights (aurora borealis) may be visible again tonight, following a spectacular display on Tuesday.
• 🎯 Caused by a geomagnetic storm, these auroras occur when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field.
• ⚡ Eruptions from the sun, known as coronal mass ejections, send particles that collide with our atmosphere, creating the dancing lights.

Understanding the Colors

• 🌈 The pink and green lights are a result of oxygen interacting with charged particles.
• 💙 Blues and purples are produced by nitrogen at lower altitudes.

Viewing Tips and Technology

• ⚠️ The geomagnetic storm was rated a strong G4 on a scale of one to five by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with potential interference to GPS and satellites.
• 📸 For a clearer view, especially of dimmer lights, using a phone camera with a longer lens opening can capture more detail than the naked eye.
• 📍 The best time to see the lights is about 30 minutes after sunset, provided the skies are clear, by looking north from an open, dark location.
• 📝 Viewers are encouraged to share their photos of the northern lights via CBS News New York.