More solar storms. Looking at the Spaceweather aurora galleries, and seeing that there have been sightings as far south as Maryland, Tennessee, and Texas, one may wonder why we still haven’t been seeing anything from Washington, DC. Light pollution is one significant factor, as is the faintness of auroras at these lower latitudes — many of the aurora photos seem to be long or combined exposures, which pick up more light over a span of time. Unfiltered naked eye viewing from this brightly lit urban area is probably insufficient to glimpse the faint red auroras visible this far from the poles.

Anyway, the activity map shows that the auroras are retreating, so our northern neighbors will once again have the lion’s share of solar love, ‘ey? Related: Aurora Viewing Tips.