The northern lights, or aurora borealis, is most commonly visible in the “auroral zone” between roughly 70 and 80 degrees north latitude.
The lights are, very basically, a result of solar winds interacting with Earth’s magnetosphere.
(photo by StuSeeger)
When a solar storm occurs, the severity of the storm increases the chances of a geomagnetic storm, and a chance at seeing the northern lights in Utah (and even farther south in exceptional circumstances).
The northern lights can be seen in Utah when the skies are clear during severe or extreme geomagnetic storms. That is, geomagnetic storms that measure at an 8 or 9 on the Kp-scale.
What is the K-index
The K-index and Kp quantify geomagnetic disturbance.
With a Kp of 3, it’s possible for the aurora borealis to be seen in the typical auroral zone.
Kp 5 is officially a geomagnetic storm and can sometimes be seen as far south as the northern US, Ukraine and southern Russia.
A severe (Kp = 8) or extreme (Kp = 9) geomagnetic storm (as high as the scale goes) can be seen as far south as northern California, northern France, Mongolia and farther.
The Clearest, Darkest Skies in Utah
The best chance at a rare glimpse of the lights in Utah might be in northern Utah, in areas of low light pollution and little cloud cover. Even the glow of a full moon obscures some of the faintest stars.
Depending on the severity of the solar storm (and therefore the geomagnetic disturbance), much farther south is possible.
Have the Northern Lights ever been visible in Utah?
In 2015 the northern lights were visible as far south as Moab.
In a severe solar storm in 1859, the lights were visible as far south as the Caribbean, and telegraph systems around the world malfunctioned. This would come to be known as “The Carrington Event.”
In 1989 Earth was hit by a massive CME that gave Utah quite a show. It also blacked out Quebec’s electrical grid. This, a mere 130 years after the Carrington Event. The blink of an eye, cosmically.So it’s just a matter of time.
What Are Dark Sky Parks?
Utah hosts several “Dark Sky Parks.” In fact, it has the highest concentration of Dark Sky Parks in the world, as well as the first in the world.
To qualify for certification by the International Dark-Sky Assocation (IDA), a park specifically must routinely be “equal to or darker than 21.2 magnitudes per square arc second,” according to the IDA.
Among Utah’s Dark Sky Parks are Antelope Island State Park on Great Salt Lake.
The Best Places To See The Northern Lights In Utah
Antelope Island State Park
is home to bison, antelope, buckhorn sheep, prairie grass, and mountain views. Bridger Bay, Antelope Island and White Rock Bay Campgrounds may offer the most promise as they look to the north of the island and the lake, away from the city and its omnipresent glow.
(photo by m01229)
Arches National Park (also IDA-certified)
World-renowned for its night skies perhaps as much as its sandstone rock formations. Any amount of light pollution will obscure stars; farther north, away from Moab offers the best chances following a severe or extreme geomagnetic disturbance.
The National Park Service recommends the Balanced Rock Picnic Area, The Windows Section, the Garden of Eden Viewpoint and Panorama Point for stargazing. And, one might extrapolate, the northern lights.
(photo by Ken Lund)
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is a Dark Sky Park in addition to its geologically distinct, irregular rock columns, and cultural significance.
There are two campgrounds in Bryce Canyon National Park, Sunset and North. During important celestial events and the many stargazing events run by the park service, telescopes are sometimes set up around the visitor center.
There’s also a yearly astronomy festival, and there are “Astronomy Rangers” and astronomy tours. A select number of backcountry permits are also available for those with a bear can, the ten essentials and a desire to feel alone, away from the campgrounds.
(photo by Bernard Spragg)
Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar offers stunning views any day of the year, in addition to its IDA-compliant views. Sub-alpine forest, meets ancient red rock formations, meets the stars.
The only place to camp is Point Supreme Campground. At approximately 10,000 feet above sea level, the campground is reportedly surrounded by meadow flowers in the summer. Layers and blankets advised.
(photo by Ken Lund)
Natural Bridges National Monument
Natural Bridges is a geological marvel and the first International Dark Sky Park. The bridges tell the story of a prehistoric coastline slowly receding over time, ebbing and flowing through the stone. 260 million years ago, Natural Bridges was a sandy beach next to an ocean that covered eastern Utah.
Natural Bridges Campground offers an overnight among the juniper trees, and is generally open year-round.
Cedar Breaks and Natural Bridges are both among the more southerly suggested Dark Sky Parks in Utah, but Coronal Mass Ejections (CME, the sun belching plasma, a storm worse than a solar flare) have happened and will again, making the lights visible across Utah, anywhere the sky is clear and dark.
Utah is home to more than 20 Dark Sky Parks.
(photo by usareisetipps)
Camp Responsibly
The night skies aren’t the only thing that make these spaces special. The Goshute, Paiute, Pueblo, Shoshone and Ute nations call these lands home. Their art remains on these monuments.
Additionally, these areas are varying degrees of ecologically fragile. A general reminder to respect the land and wildlife, “leave it how you found it,” appreciate art with eyes not hands, follow regulations and signage, and to learn about these displaced groups, if compelled.
Safe, star-filled travels.
Tips For Seeing The Northern Lights In Utah
Arguably, low light pollution might matter most. There may not be northern lights, but without light pollution, when the moon is a waxing or waning crescent or new, the stargazing in Utah is some of the best in the world, with around 15,000 stars and the Milky Way visible on the darkest nights.
The worse the solar storm, the faster it reaches Earth (if it’s going to). Foresight is a loose term. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado constantly monitors the weather in space, among other things.
A collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the National Weather Service, one of the many services they provide is a “3-day Geomagnetic Forecast,” using the Kp-Scale.
Check the space weather, then the weather where you might camp (and the national park website for emergency advisories), then pack the bags and head for darkness on an 8 or 9.
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Works Cited:
Aurora Borealis and Solar Storms 101:
“Could Solar Storms Destroy Civilization? Solar Flares & Coronal Mass Ejections.” YouTube, uploaded by Kurzgesagt, 7 June 2020, youtube.com/watch?v=oHHSSJDJ4oo&feature=share.
Molina, Michael, and Franco Barroeta. “What is an aurora? – Michael Molina.” YouTube, uploaded by TED-Ed, 3 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=czMh3BnHFHQ&feature=youtu.be.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “NOAA Space Weather Scales | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center.” NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, 10 Dec. 2021, www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation.
“3-Day Geomagnetic Forecast | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center.” Space Weather Prediction Center, 10 Dec. 2021, www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/3-day-geomagnetic-forecast.
The Campgrounds:
“Campgrounds – Bryce Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Park Service, www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm. Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.
“Campgrounds – Cedar Breaks National Monument (U.S. National Park Service).” National Park Service, www.nps.gov/cebr/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm. Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.
“Geology – Natural Bridges National Monument (U.S. National Park Service).” National Park Service, www.nps.gov/nabr/learn/nature/geologicformations.htm. Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.
International Dark-Sky Association. “International Dark Sky Places.” International Dark-Sky Association, 3 Sept. 2021, www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp.
Lightpollutionmap.info. “Light Pollution Map.” Light Pollution Map, 10 Dec. 2021, www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=6.07&lat=40.4061&lon=-111.5532&layers=B0FFFFFFFTFFFFFFFFFF.
“Stargazing – Arches National Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Park Service, www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/stargazing.htm. Accessed 10 Dec. 2021.
Previous Utah northern lights experiences:
Deseret News. “Aurora Borealis Lights Up The Heavens Across Utah.” Deseret News [Salt Lake City, Utah], 13 Mar. 1989, www.deseret.com/1989/3/13/18798448/aurora-borealis-lights-up-the-heavens-across-utah.
Neugebauer, Cimaron. “Utah Photographers Catch Rare Glimpse of Northern Lights.” KUTV [Salt Lake City, Utah], 23 June 2015, kutv.com/news/local/utah-photographers-catch-rare-glimpse-of-northern-lights.
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