Southern Lights expected across SA tonight

South Africans have a rare opportunity to witness the Aurora Australis, as the first of three predicted solar storms began hitting Earth yesterday.

The storms, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are expected to energise particles in the upper atmosphere, potentially lighting up southern skies in spectacular fashion.

The first CME arrived yesterday and could take between 30 and 90 minutes to trigger visible auroral activity.

Normally, a Kp index of 7 or higher is required to see the Southern Lights this far north, but experts warn that the size and speed of the third CME could make those thresholds irrelevant, offering an unprecedented viewing experience.

Tonight, the real show is expected as the second CME, forecast to arrive around midday yesterday, and a faster third storm later in the day, combine to create ideal aurora conditions by 8pm, as per We Are South Africans via Facebook.

Observers across the Northern, Western, and Eastern Cape, as well as Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, coastal areas, Gauteng, and possibly parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, are encouraged to look south toward a clear horizon.

Experts recommend bringing a camera, dressing warmly, and being patient.

While auroras can be unpredictable, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Families and children are encouraged to enjoy the event together, and if the aurora doesn’t appear, stargazers can still marvel at ongoing meteor showers, comets, and other celestial phenomena.

Article shared by Cape ETC

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