Aurora borealis — also known as the Northern Lights — could be visible in northern Colorado on Friday night.
A geomagnetic solar storm in the atmosphere is making the conditions ripe for the nighttime phenomenon, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder. However factors such as clouds and a bright moon could hinder the viewing.
“Tonight is the best night,” said Kenneth Pegnell, a forecaster at the prediction center. “We are expecting more geomagnetic storming in our nighttime sector.”
The Denver area would be the farthest south the lights might be visible, Pegnell said, adding that anyone seeking to see the aurora borealis would have to be away from the city’s lights.
The lights, which are caused by electrons mixing with gases in the atmosphere, could be visible on the northern horizon anytime after dark, Pegnell said.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jesseapaul
