‘May I see it?’: Astronomer says aurora borealis could reappear over B.C. skies
Posted June 2, 2025 3:59 pm.
Last Updated June 2, 2025 4:02 pm.
Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this time of day? In this part of the country?
An expert says you might get another shot at seeing the effects of a geomagnetic storm that produced some dazzling displays for B.C. residents over the weekend.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Following a “powerful coronal mass ejection (CME)” from the sun, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says a “G4” geomagnetic storm watch is in effect until Tuesday, when the rating downgrades to “G2.”
Those CMEs cause high-energy particles to travel at high speeds and when they travel towards Earth and are deflected by the planet’s magnetic fields, it causes the colourful light displays popularly known as the northern lights.
B.C. astronomer Karun Thanjavur says every 11 years, the sun goes through an extra-active phase — meaning those geomagnetic storms occur much more frequently.
Thanjavur says the sun’s activity has been peaking for the last year and a half, if not longer.
“We are on the tail end of the cycle of that peak cycle. It’ll start decreasing as 2025 progresses,” he told 1130 NewsRadio.
Thanjavur says that means it is the best season to see the northern lights, and you could see them Monday night.
He recommends getting to an area without city light pollution around 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. tonight, with a clear view of the northern horizon.
Failing that, Thanjavur says he has “found it easier to see them by taking pictures.”
“Just hold up the cell phone in dark mode, and taking pictures seems to be better than for the naked eye.”
Peak cycle or not, he says it still should be considered a rare treat to witness aurora borealis.
“It just makes it a very interesting and exciting opportunity, and also a chance to talk to our children about all these things, to get them excited about science and what makes these aurorae, so it just makes for very nice dinner table conversations,” said Thanjavur.
A forecast of the probability of aurora can be seen on the NOAA website.
