The stunning northern lights, or aurora borealis, are set to make a rare appearance across a wide area of the United States this Friday night, thanks to an impending solar storm. Usually visible only near the Earth’s poles, this breathtaking phenomenon may be seen as far south as Iowa and New York due to increased geomagnetic activity.
Let’s explore why this is happening, where you can see it, and how to get the best view of this spectacular event.
Why Are the Northern Lights More Visible This Time?
The northern lights occur when electrically charged solar particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field, causing colorful displays in the sky. While these auroras are typically seen in high-latitude regions like Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia, solar storms can push them further south.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has detected a geomagnetic storm with a Kp index of 5, meaning the auroras will be more intense and visible across a wider area than usual.
This increased visibility is due to the sun being at the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, leading to more sunspots and solar flares that send powerful charged particles toward Earth.
Where Will the Northern Lights Be Visible?
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the northern lights may be seen in over a dozen U.S. states, with the best chances in northern regions.
Best Viewing Locations (Main Visibility Zone):
- Washington
- Idaho
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
Possible Viewing Locations (Southern Edge of Visibility):
- Wyoming
- South Dakota
- Iowa
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Maine
Local weather conditions and light pollution will play a big role in how well the auroras can be seen. The best chances for a clear view are in dark, rural areas away from city lights.
Best Time to See the Northern Lights
NOAA suggests that the best time to view the auroras is within an hour or two of midnight. However, forecasts for aurora activity are hard to predict with accuracy, so it’s best to start watching as soon as it gets dark.
To maximize your chances of seeing the northern lights:
- Find a dark location away from city lights.
- Look toward the northern horizon for any colorful glows.
- Check weather conditions—clear skies will give you the best view.
- Monitor NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard for real-time updates.
How Do Northern Lights Form?
The auroras are created when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, exciting oxygen and nitrogen molecules. These molecules release energy in the form of colorful light, resulting in dazzling hues of green, red, blue, and even pink.
The exact colors depend on:
- Altitude of the collision
- Type of atmospheric gases involved
- Density of the atmosphere at the time
Earth’s magnetic field then redirects these particles toward the poles, creating the dancing waves, spirals, and flickers that have fascinated humans for centuries.
Why Are We Seeing More Northern Lights Lately?
The sun is currently at the peak of its solar cycle, which occurs approximately every 11 years. During this period, the sun experiences:
- More sunspots—areas of intense magnetic activity.
- Frequent solar flares—bursts of radiation that travel toward Earth.
- Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—large clouds of charged plasma that can interact with Earth’s magnetosphere.
These solar storms increase geomagnetic activity, making it more likely for auroras to be visible further south than usual. NASA expects this solar maximum to continue into 2025, meaning we can anticipate more frequent aurora sightings in the coming months!
Seeing the northern lights from areas where they are rarely visible is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If weather conditions permit, skywatchers in over a dozen U.S. states could witness this breathtaking event on Friday night.
With the sun at the peak of its cycle, we may continue to see more frequent aurora displays in the near future. So, keep an eye on NOAA’s aurora forecasts, head to a dark location, and enjoy nature’s most spectacular light show!
