Sky watchers in Okanagan, Kamloops have second chance to see northern lights

After a spectacular display last night, another round of aurora borealis activity expected to flare up above Kamloops and the Okanagan again tonight.

Auroraforecast.com predicts levels will be intense tonight, Feb. 27.

“Active aurora possible with slight chance of isolated minor auroral substorms and favourable conditions for major aurora activity,” the forecast says.

Last night’s activity was 10/10 on the scale.

“If they’re bright enough you’ll see them dancing,” Chris Gainor, past president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, said. “I’m not sure if it’ll be as good as last night but certainly worth going out and having a look… Even with some light pollution you can see them.”

And there’s going to be another treat in the sky tonight – leading up to a conjunction between Venus and Jupiter is set to happen on March 1, the two planets will appear to nearly touch each other from Earth’s point of view.

“Right now they’re the brightest things in the sky aside from the sun and the moon,” Gainor said. “They’re gong to be very close to each other tonight in the Western sky just after sunset.”

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