The Northern Lights as seen from Okanagan Falls.
(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)
October 29, 2021 - 6:00 PM
Expect some colour in the night sky in the Okanagan and Kamloops this weekend thanks to an extra blast of radiation from the sun.
According to aurorawatch.ca, the sun ejected a coronal mass yesterday, Oct. 28. It says the Aurora Borealis could possibly be seen as late as the evening of Nov. 1.
“Irrespective of the weather, tomorrow night (Oct. 30) will be the best night,” said Dr. Chris Gainor, past president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. “And Halloween may not be too bad either. But I wouldn’t be expecting that much tonight even if it’s clear.”
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Dr. Gainor said astronomers are able to predict the northern lights days in advance because scientists are able to observe flare-ups shortly after they happen, as the initial indicators travel at the speed of light and only require a few minutes before telescopes on earth can detect the activity.
However, the particles that create the colourful phenomenon ride with the solar wind, and they require a few days of travel to complete the 148.5-million kilometre trip from the sun.
“And it’s not exactly a direct route to earth,” he said.
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On Saturday, Oct. 30, Okanagan and Kamloops skywatchers probably won’t have to travel far to witness the phenomena, Dr. Gainor said, since their light pollution is not very strong compared to major cities like Vancouver.
Getting further away from city lights will increase the chances of seeing the show, he added, but under the right circumstances the Northern Lights can be seen in urban settings.
The aurora borealis was seen glowing above the McCulloch Trestle in Penticton.
(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)
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