Northern Lights alert! These US states could see the sky glow green tonight

Residents across parts of the northern United States might want to keep their eyes on the night sky this week as the northern lights could make a rare appearance, as per a report.

Northern Lights May Glow Over 14 US States This Week — Here's Where to Look

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC),the aurora borealis is expected to be visible in up to 14 US states between Tuesday and Wednesday night, as per Newsweek report.

Where and When to Watch Northern Lights In US

The northern lights, those dazzling, greenish waves of light typically reserved for high-latitude countries like Norway or Iceland, could show up in skies from Washington to Maine, and as far south as Iowa and New York, as per the report.

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center viewline forecast:

Tuesday Night: The aurora may be visible in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, as reported by Newsweek.

Wednesday Night: The display could continue in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine, along with northern New York near the Canadian border, as reported by Newsweek.

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How to Catch a Glimpse Of Aurora Borealis

Mike Bettwy, operations chief at the SWPC, told Newsweek that the best viewing conditions include:

• Staying up late as the peak aurora hours are typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
• Getting away from city lights and finding dark, open skies
• Using a smartphone or camera — which may pick up the lights even when they are not visible to the naked eye

The Space Weather Prediction Center said that, "The aurora is not visible during daylight hours. The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as 1000 km away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right," as quoted by Newsweek.

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What Causes the Northern Lights?

The SWPC explained that the northern lights' phenomenon occurs when electrons collide with the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere and the electrons get a boost of energy in an area of Earth's magnetic field on the night side of the planet, as reported by Newsweek.

After the electrons are energized, they then traverse along the magnetic field toward the polar regions and when they hit gases like oxygen and nitrogen high in the sky, they transfer their energy to those gases, which "excites" them and as the gases calm back down, they release that energy as glowing light, according to the Newsweek report.

When there are "large" events, the aurora might even be visible to places as far south as parts of the United States, Europe, and Asia, while, during "very large" events, it can be seen even further away from the polar regions, as reported by Newsweek.

Why Visibility Isn’t Guaranteed

Apart from clear skies, visibility can also depend on factors like low light pollution, the intensity of the aurora, then even in areas within the forecast's visibility band, cloud cover or city lights may prevent a sighting, as per the Newsweek report.

FAQs

Can I see the northern lights in the US today?
Yes. If you live in one of the 14 forecasted states and skies are clear, you might spot them, as per the Newsweek report.

Is it safe to look at the aurora with the naked eye?
Absolutely. Unlike the sun or eclipses, auroras are completely safe to watch, as per the report.