A severe geomagnetic storm is expected to bring a rare display of the aurora borealis, or aurora borealis, to the illuminated skies over Iowa from the evening of Monday, January 19, into the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 20.
The Space Weather Prediction Center reported that the Northern Lights could be visible as far south as Alabama, putting Iowa squarely in the potential viewing zone.
What is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
The most suitable time to witness the aurora will be between 10:00 p.m. on Monday and 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, with the peak of activity predicted around midnight. Greater visibility is expected in Iowa, making it the prime location.
How to see the northern lights?
Although the sky is expected to be clear, the temperature is extremely low, making it difficult to observe the celestial event.
Air temperatures in northern Iowa will be in the single digits, with wind chills dropping to between 10 and 30 degrees below zero.
For those who brave the cold, you can observe the northern lights with the naked eye. For clearer views, smartphones can help.
What camera settings work best for northern lights photography?
To capture the best aurora photos, use night mode and long exposure settings.
For professional cameras, use manual mode with a wide aperture (f/1.4-f/2.8), high ISO (1600-3200), and a shutter speed of 5-20 seconds.
