Skygazers may get a chance to view the signature dancing glow of the northern lights this week from several U.S. states.
The phenomenon will be viewable two nights in a row this week, including late Tuesday into early Wednesday and again Wednesday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.
Caused by solar eruptions that sent charged particles towards Earth’s magnetic pull over the weekend, the coveted light display will be most viewable by lucky Canadians and residents of Alaska. However, a solid handful of Northern U.S. states may also have a chance to steal a glimpse.
Here’s what to know about this week’s chance to view the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights.
What are the ‘northern lights’ aka aurora borealis?
The northern lights are a luminous glow seen around the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. Known for creating ribbons of colorful light in the night sky, the aurora borealis are polar lights, or aurora polaris, that appear in the northern hemisphere.
The southern hemisphere has its own polar lights known as the southern lights, or aurora australis, which create their own dazzling display.
Put simply, auroras are a result of the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere. A collision between electrically charged particles from the sun and gases in Earth’s atmosphere produces a series of minuscule flashes that appear like moving lights in the sky. The charged particles are pulled toward the North and South poles due to Earth’s magnetic field.
While that magnetic field usually protects the Earth from solar winds, the winds can occasionally get strong enough to bypass the field, allowing particles and gases in the magnetosphere to interact and generate the colorful displays, according to the Geophysical Institute and the Canadian Space Agency.
When will the aurora borealis be viewable?
People in Canada and some parts of the Northern U.S. may get chances to see the aurora display on the nights of Tuesday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 16.
Predicting the timing to view is a less-than-perfect science, as experts rely on NASA satellites to measure the impacts of the solar wind and magnetic intensity. Check NOAA’s 30-minute Aurora forecast to get regular updates on the best times for viewing.
Who will be able to see the aurora borealis?
In the U.S., the celestial display will only be viewable in the northernmost region. According to NOAA’s projection, this could include at least some visibility from:
- North Dakota
- Montana
- Minnesota
- Washington
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- Maine
- Oregon
- Idaho
- Wyoming
- Iowa
- New York
- Nebraska
- Illinois
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Pensylvania
AccuWeather estimated that, if the geomagnetic storm is strong enough, the lights could be visible even farther south than these states. Plus, according to the weather source, you may be able to use long-exposure photography to capture images of the lights even if you can’t see them with the naked eye.
Weather forecast for viewing the northern lights
Unfortunately for some, Accuweather is predicting conditions that may get in the way of optimal viewing.
As of Tuesday, its meteorologists said the Northeast and eastern Great Lakes region is expected to get some wintry weather characterized by cloudy conditions, rain, cold temperatures and even snow, though cloud cover is expected to improve Wednesday night.
The Midwest and northern Plains region will probably have the best weather for viewing Tuesday night, said AccuWeather, though cloud cover is expected by Wednesday night. The Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountains are also expected to contend with cloudy weather on Tuesday night, though conditions may clear in Washington and Oregon by Wednesday night.
As with most celestial phenomena, the best viewing is during the darkest hours of the night and early morning in less densely populated areas away from light pollution.
