After two huge solar flares, northern lights hoped for in the sky this weekend

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It’s already autumn, and we don’t necessarily imagine seeing the Northern Lights at this season. And yet, this could well be the case this Friday, October 4 in the evening, or this Sunday, October 6. A good weekend departure gift! We explain what you need to know.

First of all, let’s remember that the Northern Lights are astronomical events that are difficult to predict, and that we are rarely 100% sure of seeing a beautiful red or green spectacle.

A beautiful spectacle hoped for

But the lights are still green for this weekend at the beginning of October.

On X, astrophysicist Eric Lagadec warned of “the biggest solar flare in years. Maybe the Northern Lights in 2-3 days!! “, he exclaims.

And Fabric Mottez, editor-in-chief of the journal l’Astronomie, joined by actu.fr, confirms to us “two eruptions in approximately the right direction for the Earth to receive the consequences”. That is to say the chances that the Northern Lights will be visible, following these solar flares.

The first eruption could reach us this Friday evening, and the second could arrive on the 6th, that is to say Sunday, and it is on this day that it would be the strongest (and that the auroras would therefore be the strongest, if they are visible), because the eruption is very energetic.

According to the specialist in the Northern Lights, at high latitudes, in Norway and Sweden, “it is clear that they will put on a show. In France, there is a 40% chance of seeing some« .

Even if there are solar flares, we are not sure of seeing the Northern Lights. “If on Sunday or this evening the magnetic field of the solar wind is oriented towards the south, we can be sure that there will be a great show. But this is what is most risky, we don’t know too far in advance where this solar wind will head, and if it will be strong. »

How are the Northern Lights formed?

Concretely, it is difficult to accurately anticipate these phenomena. Because they are complex to measure. Remember that the Northern Lights result from the interaction between charged particles from the solar wind and the upper atmosphere and produce magnificent green sheets of light that wave across the sky.

“In fact, this phenomenon is linked to the Sun, which sends a wind of particles (electrons, protons, etc.) constantly into the atmosphere. This wind encounters what is in its path, and when it passes close to the Earth, in its magnetic field, it interacts with terrestrial elements,” Fabrice Mottez, also a researcher at the Paris Observatory, already explained to us. , for a previous article.

A small part of this wind enters the Earth’s environment, remains there for a few hours (changing direction, speed, etc.), then is re-emitted towards the Earth. To imagine, it is as if this wind was stored in the Earth’s environment, then evacuated, like a bag emptying. And it is this phenomenon of evacuation which causes the auroras, and therefore this green light.

So, if they are visible from here, it is because they are located at the latitudes of England, or even Scotland. “So in this case, they are high, and we can see them from afar. We will therefore be able to see red lights in the sky. On the other hand, if they are closer, we will see them in full, so in red and green“, specifies the astronomy specialist.

Luckier if you live in the north of France

In France, residents of the northern half of France will be luckier in hoping to see the celestial phenomenon, if it occurs. “We are more likely to see them near the Channel or in the north than in Toulouse, but we are sure of nothing, there are people who saw them in the southern half of France last May, when of the strongest dawn event of the year,” says Fabrice Mottez.

To observe them, as usual, it is necessary get away from all light pollutionand look rather towards the north. Even if “an aurora is big”, it is implied, if you look up at the sky, they are out, you will surely see them.

If they are not huge, you will have to look low on the horizon, it is better to manage so as not to have a city to the north in your line of sight.

And when it comes to the time at which you should go out into your garden or onto your balcony to try to see the show, the same observation: you never know the timing in advance with precision.

“Around 10 p.m. – midnight”

“In general, this happens rather around 10 p.m. – midnightbut again, anything can happen. What you need to understand is that the aurora appears within 1 or 2 hours after the solar flare,” explains the specialist.

Et the show could well last several dayssince when a strong eruption occurs, it disrupts the terrestrial environment for two or three days, “if it is strong, we can observe them for a good part of the night. But this is really in the event of very strong events. Sunday, that could well be the case,” he anticipates.

So, be prepared just in case, and don’t forget your phones and cameras because this can result in some great shots!

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