It’s hard to see the Northern Lights in NJ
On Sunday and Monday, photos circulated on the internet, saying North Jersey could see the Northern Lights with the naked eye while South Jersey would have it visible with a camera.
What happened? No lights, just a dark, clear sky.
Here’s the thing – Seeing the Northern Lights is HARD in NJ!
Those maps were based off a G3 geomagnetic storm.
Now, like hurricanes, you can go up to a category 5. In G3 storms, NOAA says the aurora, and this is important “has been seen as low as Illinois and Oregon”.
However, that’s with a camera and low on the horizon. You can’t see it with your eyes and you’ll need to be on the beach or somewhere with a lot of open space to the north.
The maps you saw online fudged the lines to make it looks like NYC, Philly, the big cities, would be in the action.
In reality, you need a G4 geomagnetic storm to see it here. That was the kind that brought the dazzling colors in October 2024 and then last November, too.
Like most things in life, know your sources, before posting and sharing.
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