Aurora borealis with silhouette standing man on the mountain / Shutterstock
Metro Vancouver stargazers, rejoice!
One of mother nature's most dazzling astral displays might be visible from the Lower Mainland tonight.
According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, auroral activity will be active on Nov. 20. Further, active auroral displays are expected to be visible, "overhead from Inuvik, Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit to Juneau, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Sept-Iles, and visible low on the horizon from Vancouver, Great Falls, Pierre, Madison, Lansing, Ottawa, Portland and St. Johns."
The forecast calls for active displays over the horizon from Vancouver on Nov. 22, as well.
Photo: University of Alaska Fairbanks
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 3-Day Aurora Forecast model shows that some of the aurora's intensity will be seen over the Lower Mainland. The model show's the intensity and location of the aurora as expected for the time shown at the top of the map, and it appears that the northern lights will be viewable overnight on Nov. 20 as well as Nov. 21.
Photo: NOAA
In order for us to see the aurora, however, the sky must be dark and clear; clouds are the biggest obstacles to auroral observations. However, Vancouver's forecast calls for clear skies tonight and for the next couple of days. As such, stargazers have the ideal conditions for a spellbinding celestial show.
Stargazers should opt to travel as far away from city lights as possible in order to avoid light pollution that will obscure the clarity of heavenly bodies. While this works best in more remote places, anywhere that has a higher elevation will also provide more ideal viewing conditions.
