Technologies

The Aurora Borealis Is Back Tonight, and It May Hit Up to 20 States

This edition of the northern lights is brought to you by a pair of coronal mass ejections that erupted on New Year’s Day.

It’s a busy start to the year for skygazers. There’s a supermoon coming on Jan. 3, the same day as the peak of the Quadrantids meteor shower. Tonight, meanwhile, the aurora borealis is predicted to make an appearance. If you don’t mind the cold this weekend, you’ll have plenty to look at outdoors on Friday and Saturday night.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tonight’s aurora — aka the northern lights — arises from a G2 magnetic storm, which tends to push the aurora borealis into the northern third of the United States. The height of the storm is expected late Friday and early Saturday, just after midnight. It’ll taper off as sunrise approaches.

This aurora is heading to Earth because of a coronal mass ejection, a cloud of plasma and other solar materials ejected from the sun, on New Year’s Day. The CME was classified as a C6-level flare, which isn’t particularly strong, but it is traveling right at Earth. Once it gets here, the solar material will interact with the Earth’s geomagnetic field, which is what causes the northern lights to appear.

The states expected to get the best view of the aurora include Alaska, Washington, the northern tip of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Eagle-eyed viewers with a good vantage point should be able to see it in Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Depending on the strength, people in northern portions of Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania may also see it.

Since the aurora borealis is much like regular Earth weather, the storm may be weaker or stronger than predicted, so even if you’re just south of NOAA’s predicted view line, keep an eye on your local news in case the geomagnetic storm is stronger than expected, which will push the aurora even further south.

Viewing tips for the aurora borealis

To get a good look at the northern lights, follow the same general viewing tips as for any other nighttime skygazing. You’ll want to get as far away from the city and suburbs as possible to reduce light pollution. People who reside in states that rest against the Canadian border can look upward as the aurora will stretch that far. People on the southern reaches of NOAA’s predicted viewing area will have their best chances by seeking an elevated position and looking northward. The higher you can get, the better your chances.

Should you decide to take part in the celestial festivities, keep an eye out for the Quadrantids meteor shower and the supermoon as well. Depending on where you live, you might get to see all three events at once, which would make for a nice evening of skygazing.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, Jan. 4

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 4.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s one of those puzzle grids with absolutely no blank spaces, so if you correctly answer all the Across clues, the Downs will fill themselves in, and vice-versa. Read on for the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Ron Swanson’s «number one favorite food,» on «Parks and Recreation»
Answer: BACON

6A clue: It comes in black and green varieties, depending on ripeness
Answer: OLIVE

7A clue: Paramour
Answer: LOVER

8A clue: In bronze medal position
Answer: THIRD

9A clue: Feeling resentful, in slang
Answer: SALTY

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Streaks of lightning
Answer: BOLTS

2D clue: Hawaiian greeting
Answer: ALOHA

3D clue: The «C» of A.C.L.U.
Answer: CIVIL

4D clue: In the open
Answer: OVERT

5D clue: Knowledgeable, and proud of it
Answer: NERDY

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Jan. 4, #468

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 4, No. 468.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a colorful one, and if you take that as a hint, you should do well. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Color of bananas.

Green group hint: Fans own the team.

Blue group hint: North Carolina educational institution.

Purple group hint: Royal color.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Things that are yellow.

Green group: Associated with the Green Bay Packers.

Blue group: Associated with the Duke Blue Devils.

Purple group: Teams that wear purple.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is things that are yellow. The four answers are foul pole, Georgia Tech, softball and Tour de France leader.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is associated with the Green Bay Packers. The four answers are cheesehead, Frozen Tundra, Lambeau and Titletown.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is associated with the Duke Blue Devils. The four answers are Cameron, Krzyzewskiville, The Shot and Tobacco Road.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is teams that wear purple. The four answers are Northwestern, Ravens, Rockies and Vikings.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 4 #672

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Jan. 4, No. 672.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle could be tough. Some of the answers are long and difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: I just know…

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Mental powers.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

HIDE, SIDE, MICE, DICE, CAUL, CARE, CARET, CAPE, TAPE, RICE

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers: