New Year’s Eve Aurora? Northern Lights Could Be Visible in Czech Skies

Thanks to a recent solar eruption, astronomy enthusiasts might be able to witness the aurora borealis on New Year’s Eve.

According to astronomers, a plasma cloud of charged particles ejected by the Sun last Thursday is expected to hit Earth on the evening of December 31.

This could trigger a geomagnetic storm strong enough to make the northern lights visible even in the Czech Republic, says Petr Horálek from the Institute of Physics at the Silesian University in Opava.

“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast a geomagnetic storm of up to class G3, likely starting in the second half of New Year’s Eve. However, the occurrence of the phenomenon isn’t guaranteed, as predicting solar wind behavior is highly complex,” Horálek explains.

To increase your chances of seeing the aurora, Horálek recommends finding a clear view of the northern horizon, far from light pollution, and keeping an eye on real-time aurora monitors. The University of Opava has also released a video guide with detailed instructions for viewing the northern lights.

While the aurora remains uncertain, skywatchers can already spot Venus, which is shining brightly in the southwestern sky at dusk. Venus, often referred to as the “Evening Star,” is currently the third-brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon.

According to Horálek, Venus will become a key player in celestial events in 2025, particularly in conjunctions—apparent close encounters with other celestial bodies.

“We’ll observe Venus as a dazzling Evening Star from January to the end of March, visible above the western horizon at dusk and into the late evening. On January 10, 2025, it will reach its greatest eastern elongation, its furthest angular distance from the Sun in the evening sky. A month later, it will be at its highest position above the Central European horizon,” Horálek adds.

For those interested in observing the aurora, the astronomer recommends the websites www.solarham.com or www.spaceweatherlive.com, or the mobile app Aurora Alerts.

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