Chicago area could see rare and spectacular light show from the northern lights

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Thanks to the Sun, the Chicago-area could have a rare and spectacular light show in the night sky from the northern lights.

Michelle Nichols, the director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium, says there were several ejections of charged material from the Sun in recent days.

She says when the particles interact with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, they can create what's known as the northern lights.

She says the Northern Lights are rare this far south, but they are much more likely here when the Sun emits so much charged material.

“Cross your fingers. This stuff is extraordinarily hard to predict. And just because the predictions are now that we might see the northern lights, it doesn't necessarily automatically mean you'll see them. They may be visible in an area and then they may go away. It's something that is just hit or miss.”
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Nichols says the northern lights are not usually seen this far south, but they can reach the Chicago-area when the Sun emits so much charged material.

She recommends getting as far away as possible from the city and suburbs to find darker night skies that will make it easier to see the northern lights.

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