Aurora borealis may be visible across parts of the United States tonight
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Sky watchers have a chance to see the northern lights tonight and tomorrow night. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted that strong solar activity could result in the aurora borealis becoming visible across Canada and nearly a quarter of the United States.
According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, minor geomagnetic storm conditions are possible both days, with moderate storming possible. According to the Met Office of the United Kingdom, "fast solar winds" could cause the storms.
The same solar winds could cause aurora australis (southern lights) in New Zealand and Tasmania.
What are the northern lights?
A light show of greens and blue crawling across the sky, auroras happen when solar winds and other types of space weather collide with the Earth's magnetosphere and upper atmosphere.
As solar winds collide with Earth, electrons and protons in the upper atmosphere are pushed around and ionized.
Other types of space weather include solar flares, sudden releases of the sun's energy, are common. Another type, coronal mass ejections, occur when chunks of sun are thrown into space. If directed at Earth, these events can disrupt satellites in space and even put astronauts at risk.
These storms go through 11 year cycles of intensity. 2024 was the peak of the last cycle, when storms were more common. The cycle is now slowing, with solar flares becoming less common over the next five years.
Where can you see the northern lights this week?
You'll need to be traveling a little north to see the aurora this week. The lights will be visible in these northern states:
- Alaska
- Washington
- Idaho
- Montana
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- New York
- Maine
In the past, the northern lights have gotten as far south as Central Texas. Photos taken from the Hill County in 2024 show the beauty of the lights.
If you can get to one of these states, the key is to avoid city lights and find a spot with clear skies. Face north and look up between midnight and 2 a.m..