Mother Nature put on a show Tuesday night as the Northern Lights shined across Southern Wisconsin. Red and green were among many colors depicted in the night sky. A large geomagnetic storm from the sun is currently happening. As of Wednesday morning levels of a G3 storm are being observed and G4 levels are possible. While this could cause some disruption to long wave radio transmissions, it also means that the Aurora Borealis was visible across most of the country Tuesday night. As the geomagnetic storm continues we have another good chance to see the northern lights again Wednesday night. A KP Index of 8 is expected and typically we need at least a 6 to see the aurora in southern Wisconsin. Meteors from the Taurid meteor shower, which peaked last night and tonight will also be visible. This meteor stream sometimes delivers a few bright “fireballs,” according to Space.com, at a rate of 5-10 per hour or up to 15 at its peak. The best time to view the Taurid meteor shower is around midnight when the Taurus constellation, is high in the sky.
