Northern Lights: Visual treat likely for 20 US states tonight; here's how to get the best view

The sky may yet have another celestial spectacle in store, but the latest solar storm forecast suggests aurora watchers will need patience before stepping outside.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, that recently illuminated skies over North Dakota, Canada and Iceland followed geomagnetic storms triggered when charged particles from the Sun interacted with gases in Earth’s atmosphere.

A fresh round of solar activity expected to brighten the sky on Wednesday night, however, appears to have been delayed or may have passed Earth without a significant impact, Valerie Mesa of People wrote in a report.


As per the report, a minor G1 geomagnetic storm remains possible, while a stronger G2 storm cannot be ruled out if solar material still travelling through space reaches Earth.

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The outlook remains fluid because multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) may have combined into a single, more powerful event. The UK Met Office, however, has now assessed the likelihood of an Earth impact as low.

Places Northern Lights may favour most

If solar activity strengthens after dark, the aurora could favour Alaska and the northern tier of the US during a G1 storm.

The potential viewing zone includes parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Washington, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and South Dakota.

A surprise G2 event could push the aurora farther south. In that scenario, parts of Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York could potentially see the display. However, NOAA considers these locations possibilities rather than guaranteed viewing areas.

Because the forecast is for relatively low-level geomagnetic activity, aurora watchers should consult NOAA’s short-term aurora map before heading out.

How to get the best view

Auroras, which are weak at first, can be difficult to see with the naked eye, making dark skies particularly important. Activity can also change rapidly, with a faint glow sometimes giving way to more prominent green ribbons and waves.

Real-time monitoring can improve the chances of catching the display. NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast, along with space-weather applications tracking solar wind and magnetic-field changes, can help viewers identify periods of stronger activity.

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Those hoping to photograph the aurora should use a smartphone’s night mode or long-exposure setting. Keeping the phone completely still is important, with a tripod or a stable surface helping prevent movement during longer exposures.

On compatible smartphones, users can select night mode through the camera settings. Alternatively, pro mode can provide similar exposure controls for capturing the faint light of the aurora.