Rare red northern lights may be visible alongside red moon during tomorrow night's partial lunar eclipse
Moderate G1 and G2 geomagnetic storms are forecast during the Aug. 27-28 partial lunar eclipse, with the northern lights potentially visible across several northern U.S. states and parts of Canada alongside the reddened full moon.
A rare combination of a red aurora and a red moon may be visible to skywatchers during tomorrow night's partial lunar eclipse. The full moon will enter Earth's shadow, casting an eerie red glow over 96% of its surface. At the same time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a moderate geomagnetic storm warning, predicting the auroras could be visible from several states.
Those in Canada and Alaska have the best chance of seeing both phenomena together, as the moon will be lower in the eastern sky during the eclipse's peak. The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is caused by solar wind particles colliding with atmospheric atoms and molecules, while the moon appears red due to atmospheric refraction of red light.
With a powerful solar flare and a coronal mass ejection expected to reach Earth on August 27-28, the conditions may create a unique sight of the northern lights and a reddened moon.
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