Andorra Residents Get Slim Chance to See Northern Lights Through Saturday Amid Solar Peak
Heightened geomagnetic activity with Kp index at 5-6 offers low odds, best viewed from high-elevation spots despite cloudy skies. Expert advises against all-night vigils as reddish auroras may appear at lower latitudes.
Key Points
- Andorra residents have slim chance to see northern lights through Saturday due to Kp index 5-6 geomagnetic activity.
- Expert Jordi Colell calls odds 'very low'; advises high-elevation spots despite cloudy skies.
- 2024-2026 solar peak enables reddish auroras at lower latitudes like Andorra.
- Last sighting in Andorra occurred last year; all-night vigils not recommended.
Residents in Andorra have a slim chance to witness the northern lights through Saturday, thanks to heightened solar activity creating favourable geomagnetic conditions.
Jordi Colell, owner of CM Experience, described the opportunity as exceptional, noting that such sightings remain unpredictable but occurred in Andorra last year. He pointed to the global Kp index—a measure of geomagnetic activity ranging from 0 to 9—currently hovering at 5-6 until the weekend, offering "good but very low" probabilities.
Colell cautioned against staying up all night, estimating the odds at "almost zero." Clouds are covering the sky today, the most promising day, further dimming prospects. For those keen to try, he recommended high-elevation spots with 360-degree views and minimal light pollution.
The current 2024-2026 period marks a peak for solar storms, which trigger the auroras by taking two to three days to reach Earth. In Andorra's lower latitude, viewers can expect reddish hues at altitudes of 300-400km, unlike the green or yellow displays closer to the ground in places like Norway or Finland.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: