If you are one of the lucky ones who saw the aurora borealis that covered the sky of Catalonia a few months ago, you know the magnitude of the phenomenon we are referring to. The Sun has entered a cycle of high activity, expelling the largest flares since records exist, and that could cause the aurora borealis to be seen again in Catalonia this weekend.
This has been announced by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which recorded on Thursday a sudden explosion of magnitude X9, the most powerful of the current solar cycle, which will impact the Earth in a few days. This eruption even surpasses the X8.7 category eruption that occurred last May 14, which already caused aurora borealis visible in Catalonia.
At other times, previously, the Sun had already spat out even more intense flares, such as those of category X11.8 and X13.3 that took place a few days apart in September 2017. However, these flares belong to the previous variation of the star, which took place between January 2008 and December 2019.
Therefore, it is quite likely that the northern lights will be seen again in our skies. This is an ideal plan to do this weekend in Barcelona and take the opportunity to discover secret corners of Catalonia. So we tell you all the details so you know how to see them.
When will you be able to see northern lights in Catalonia?
This X9 solar flare is expected to hit our planet this Sunday, causing a geomagnetic storm of great intensity (level G3). This will cause, among other effects, the presence of northern lights at unusually low latitudes, including potentially Catalonia.
Saturday and Sunday nights will offer the best opportunities to see the northern lights in Catalonia.
But it will not be the only spectacle we will be able to see.The “Comet of the century” will also pass close to Earth this weekend, and will be visible from some points of Catalonia, so you have another reason to look at the sky.
The best spots for aurora borealis observation?
In May, the best spot to see northern lights was the Sierra del Montsec, where the most important auroras were seen in the area in the last 150 years, according to the Parc Astronómic de les Muntanyes de Prades and Montsec. Therefore, it is to be expected that this area will again be a favorable place to observe the phenomenon.
But these are not the only places to see aurora borealis in Catalonia.
Other areas of the Pyrenees will be favorable places, in addition to places like Prades, the Empordà near Maçanet de la Selva and the Portús in La Junquera, rural areas of Lleida as the Pla or Segarra or regions such as Berguedà, l’Anoia or Pallars are some of the areas of Catalonia where the northern lights could already be seen in May and that enjoy, in general, low light pollution.
For the rest, the general indications recommend looking for elevated areas with low light pollution, avoid obstacles on the horizon and wait until the sky is clear.