Northern lights over Long Island: How you might see them tonight

To the naked eye, the nighttime sky across Long Island on Saturday will appear ordinary. But the aid of a digital camera or cellphone can potentially reveal a unique solar phenomenon: the aurora also known as the northern lights.

A recent large solar flare on the sun has caused a geomagnetic storm, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Typically when that happens, the colorful green, red and purple light shifts created by electrons colliding with the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere are only visible farther north. But this time, even New York can catch a glimpse. 

Jason Cousins, president of the Amateur Observers’ Society of New York, recommended people on Long Island travel farther north, even to areas of Westchester County, for a better viewing experience. But, he said, it will still be possible from the Island to capture the lights, on a camera or phone with a long exposure.

“They should have their cellphones point to the north,” he said, and recommended shooting a 10-second or 30-second burst with the camera mounted.

“The colors are not favorable to our human receptors,” he said. “You do see them if they’re really pronounced. But the best way to see them obviously is to have a digital camera or cellphone.”

Cousins said some members of the club planned to meet at Robert Moses State Park on Saturday night to potentially catch a glimpse. The nighttime skies above Long Island should be clear, according to the National Weather Service.

Cousins said between 7 and 11 p.m. should be the best viewing time. The visibility will likely decrease for Sunday night.

The Space Weather Prediction Center, part of NOAA, publishes a map predicting the intensity and location of the aurora. For Saturday night, the viewing line cuts just north of Long Island and is at the upper part of the state for Sunday night. The most intense viewing can be seen in Canada and Alaska, according to the map.

Cousins will have a clearer view Saturday night from upstate Tupper Lake, where he is currently at the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory for a photo seminar.

Strong solar storms in May produced aurora displays visible on Long Island and could even be seen as far south as Florida, Cousins said.

He described viewing the northern lights as a feeling of elation.

“You see something that you don’t normally see every once in a while,” he said.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister covers the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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