The Southern Tier had the opportunity for an incredible sight Thursday night; the northern lights.
While yesterday’s forecast didn’t provide high hopes for seeing vibrant visibility in the area, there was a pleasant surprise with bright, colorful skies to make for beautiful photos and a special experience, particularly in Broome County.
But, will residents in the region have the opportunity to experience this again Friday night? Kopernik Observatory & Science Center Executive Director Drew Deskur and National Weather Service Binghamton meteorologist Ben Lott weighed in on the chances.
Where were the northern lights visible last night?
Aurora borealis, or the northern lights, were highly visible across the Southern Tier Thursday night, and Deskur called the experience “pretty extraordinary.”
Over 100 people sat at the observatory to witness the beauty, Deskur said, experiencing shades of red, purple and green across the sky just after sunset, and continuing well into the night.
More: Will Southern Tier see Northern Lights this week? Here are the chances
Will the Binghamton area see the northern lights again tonight?
According to both Lott and Deskur, the chances are low, but it is still possible.
Deskur explained that the forecast is “not looking favorable” tonight, but that was also the case Thursday, and the results were far more than expected.
Lott said the predictions “don’t look as good today as they did yesterday,” but the numbers on the Space Weather Prediction Center show the solar storm to be at a “bare minimum” needed for it to be visible for us.
Regarding the weather, Lott said the forecast shows mostly clear skies throughout Friday night, so clouds should not be a factor into visibility.
How to view the northern lights
There is a very low chance the lights will be able to be seen with the naked eye, if at all, tonight, Lott said. Both Lott and Deskur suggest using a cellphone camera or regular camera to capture the lights tonight.
Deskur said that using a camera with even “moderate time exposure” of a couple seconds could provide you with the vibrancy you’re looking for.
Lott further explained that a lot of newer cellphones have something called “night mode” and, in using that, it could provide you with the best chance of seeing them tonight.
In regards to where to look when you’re looking at the sky, Deskur recommended looking northeast instead of directly north, as that is where they were most visible last night.
While the chances are pretty low, both Deskur and Lott are hopeful they will be visible again, and encourage Southern Tier residents to go out Friday and look to the skies.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Will northern lights be visible in NY, Southern Tier on Friday?
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