Get ready to bundle up. Connecticut residents have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights tonight if the clouds cooperate.
“Aurora heights could be as low as Alabama and northern California,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center said.
The forecast center issued a serious warning of a G4 level geomagnetic storm, with a geomagnetic K index of 8 and warning levels ranging from G1 to G5.
A storm of this magnitude would not only produce the Northern Lights but could also affect power systems, spacecraft operations, and satellite and radio navigation.
Norwich is expected to be partly cloudy tonight, with a maximum temperature of just 12 degrees. The way these clouds are distributed will seriously affect the scenery.
Map of possible Northern Lights sightings tonight
On January 19, the Northern Lights can be seen as far south as Alabama.
According to forecasts, the following states are most likely to be affected on January 19th.
However, the following states are within sight, indicating that there is still a chance that one can see the phenomenon.
Even if you are within a potential line of sight for viewing the Northern Lights, there is no guarantee that they will be visible.
As some meteorologists say, camera views of the Northern Lights may extend even lower.
How to Take Aurora Photos
The best way to take photos of the Northern Lights on your smartphone is to adjust the exposure time and enable night mode.
According to Travelfoss, for the best images, you should adjust your iPhone to capture more light. Night mode will automatically turn on, allowing the camera sensor to remain on for 1 to 3 seconds, depending on the light. To get the best aurora images, you should adjust this setting to a maximum of 10 seconds (or 30 seconds if you’re using a tripod).
If there is too much ambient light, Night Mode may let in too much light and overexpose the photo. To resolve this issue, you may need to modify the exposure adjustment settings according to Travelfoss.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
According to NOAA, the Northern Lights are usually most visible between 10 pm and 2 am.
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How to watch the Northern Lights
As always, dark skies are better for stargazing.
Tim Brothers, MIT technology lecturer and observatory manager, told Wicked Local in a past interview: “We usually recommend getting away from the city, finding an open field or a mountain top, resting under the stars, and waiting for the show to really peak in the evening or early morning.”
He continues, “In New England, heading to a local preserve or park that doesn’t have lights on at night is ideal. Another option is to go to the coastline away from the big cities — The bonus is that you can see most of the ‘shooting stars’ in this constellation. “
Where to check the Northern Lights forecast
If you want to get a chance to see the Northern Lights, here are some websites where you can monitor solar activity:
Aurora Alert
Space Weather Prediction Center
Space Network
Aurora Forecast Page (NOAA)
Aurora Reach
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared in the Burlington Free Press: Northern Lights possible in CT. Weather forecast, maps, how to take photos