DETROIT – Michigan residents across the state will have one of the best shots in decades to see the Northern Lights, thanks to the sun.
Read: When, where and how to see possible Northern Lights in Metro Detroit tonight
Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch (the first since 2005) for the evening of Friday, May 10, lasting until Sunday, May 12. Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend, extending the field of possible Northern Lights south into Michigan, especially on Friday night into Saturday. (May 10-11).
The excitement for the celestial show is growing by the minute.
“They want to know where to see the aurora, how they can the aurora, if they can see the aurora,” said Austin Edmister, assistant director of astronomy at the University of Michigan Detroit Observatory.
Melissa Kaelin, the founder of Michigan Aurora Chasers, has been an aurora storm chaser for more than a decade. Friday’s G4 storm -- mind you, the scale only goes up to G5 -- might top her list of geomagnetic storms.
“It means that one of the most powerful aurora displays possible is headed our way right now,” Kaelin said.
It’s the first time since 2005 that scientists can predict the intensity of the aurora. That’s because of five massive solar flares over the past few days.
“These charged particles will collide with air molecules like oxygen and nitrogen to emit light and color and that’s what we’ll see,” Kaelin said.
The best bet to view the aurora borealis is somewhere dark and away from city lights.
“It’s amazing,” Kaelin said. “When people go out tonight and look up, they’re going to see aurora formations and movement and pillars, waves and swirls and, hopefully, lots of color.”
Read: Northern Lights weather: Best places, times to see them in Metro Detroit