Here's how to observe and photograph it on Saturday evening in France

Nature – The show has just begun! The spectacular northern lights are expected to set the skies on fire again on Saturday, May 11, as a result of a solar storm. Maximum ” Which started hitting the ground at the beginning of the weekend.

Conditions associated with a Level 5 geomagnetic storm, the maximum level on the scale used, were observed on Friday evening, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) said on Saturday. The agency adds that the storm is expected to continue until at least Sunday, with additional emissions from the solar coronal mass, or plasma bubbles expelled by strong solar winds.

“Conditions are still good” To observe this aerial scene, Fabrice Motez, researcher (CNRS) at the Paris Observatory, adds to Actu.fr. The scientist estimates that the alert level for geomagnetic storms this Saturday is Level 4, which means a high probability of seeing the northern lights but perhaps a little less intense than the day before. In X, meteorologist Guillaume Séchet indicates that the intensity of the storm will be rather Level 3 on Saturday evening.

In any case, the likelihood of seeing the sky turn beautiful colors again this evening is high. To increase your chances of seeing this amazing spectacle, HuffPost Provides you with advice from specialists.

• Find the right place and look north

First of all, the northern lights are a difficult phenomenon to predict, so it is impossible to give you a specific timetable so that you do not miss them. Observing the sky at the beginning of the night is undoubtedly the best technique.

To increase your chances, also choose a location away from light pollution, in other words, as far away from cities as possible, explains Sebastian Frank, vice president of the Society for Meteorological Forecasting STM67 in Alsace News.

” Since it is a luminous phenomenon that occurs in the atmosphere, it is not necessary to ascend to altitude to avoid disturbance of this atmosphere itself.Patrice Arnal, member of the French Astronomical Society, Alsace Group, adds to our colleagues.

Once you find the right spot, prepare for good weather and clear skies. On Twitter, the astrophysicist at the Côte d'Azur Observatory, Eric Lagadec, finally insisted in February on an important point so as not to miss it: “ Look toward the northern horizon “.

• Understand what you are looking at

Have you ever wondered why the northern lights are sometimes red or green? It's all about the height, you see On the chart below. For example, the red northern lights can be seen more than 241 km from Earth.

This color change is due to the gas content ” excited “ By solar wind. It is often oxygen that gives aurora its green and red color. When nitrogen is present, the aurora is often blue or purple.

• Take beautiful photos

To commemorate this phenomenon that only occurs every 10 years in France, you can also try photographing the northern lights. In X, photographers advise you to take your photos in “ Long exposure At night, this will capture more detail.

Photographer Thierry Chevillier explains his method in X, As you can read in the tweet below. As wide aperture as possible is ideal for him to take great photos.

Besides the technical aspects, another important parameter is the location, as it should be as far away from artificial lights as possible, as another dedicated photographer explains. article For pictures of the Northern Lights. Now it's your turn!

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