Geomagnetic Storm Hits Earth, Aurora Borealis Visible in 22 US States
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- Aliran angin matahari berkecepatan tinggi diperkirakan mencapai medan magnet Bumi pada Rabu malam hingga Kamis dini hari, memicu badai geomagnetik skala G1 hingga G2.
- Fenomena aurora borealis berpotensi terlihat di 22 negara bagian AS, dari Alaska hingga New York, dengan syarat langit gelap dan cuaca cerah.
- Meski demikian, cahaya bulan yang semakin terang menjelang purnama pada 26 September dapat mengurangi visibilitas aurora, terutama di wilayah selatan.
A geomagnetic storm is expected to hit Earth from Wednesday night (23/9) into early Thursday (24/9), raising the chance of aurora borealis appearing in parts of the northern United States. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center reported that a high-speed stream of solar wind from a coronal hole will interact with Earth's magnetic field, creating geomagnetic storm conditions of at least minor scale (G1), with the possibility of escalating to the more easily observed G2 level.
The phenomenon is drawing attention because auroras are usually visible only at high latitudes, but stronger storms can push the auroral oval southward. If activity reaches G1, residents near the Canadian border have the best chance from dark locations in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Meanwhile, if the storm strengthens to G2, faint auroral light could be visible as far as Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Even so, observers must factor in the moon. The moon phase heading toward full moon on Saturday (26/9) will make the night sky brighter, so faint auroras could be washed out by moonlight. "The darker your surroundings, the better your chances," NOAA advised, as quoted in the report. In addition, auroras are known to be difficult to predict; activity can fluctuate quickly, sometimes appearing only as a faint glow before suddenly erupting into bright green ribbons.
For readers in Indonesia, the aurora borealis cannot be seen directly because of the country's geographic location on the equator. However, geomagnetic storms triggered by solar activity remain relevant. Disturbances in Earth's magnetic field can affect satellite navigation systems, high-frequency radio communication, and power grids at high latitudes. Although the direct impact on Indonesia is minimal, airlines and satellite operators need to watch for potential signal disruptions, especially for polar flight routes passing near auroral regions.
In addition, for Indonesian travelers currently in the United States or Canada, this moment could be a rare opportunity to witness the aurora without having to go to Iceland or Norway. However, careful planning is needed: getting away from city light pollution, monitoring NOAA's aurora map in real time, and preparing a smartphone camera in night mode or with long exposure. Research shows that phone cameras are often more sensitive than the human eye at detecting faint auroras, so photos can be more striking than what is seen directly.
"The aurora can appear as a weak glow and then quickly develop into a curtain of light. Patience and a dark location are key," a NOAA forecaster said in the report.
Going forward, solar activity is expected to remain in a rising phase toward the peak of cycle 25, predicted to occur around 2025-2026. That means chances of geomagnetic storms and mid-latitude auroras will become more frequent. However, the main challenge remains space weather prediction, which still carries high uncertainty. People in at-risk areas are advised to keep monitoring official information from NOAA and other space weather agencies, and not to rely on long-range forecasts. The question is, is global technological infrastructure ready enough to face stronger solar storms in the future?
