Northern lights in US: Which states will see the Aurora Borealis tonight? Key timings and how to get the best view

Stargazers in America are in for a surprise as northern lights are making an appearance tonight, on May 9, in the night sky across a few states in the US. What’s better! These northern lights will also be visible in areas close to the Canadian border.

The latest forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggests that there are enough possibilities of some more unlisted areas to experience the phenomenon.

This natural phenomenon is taking place after the recent coronal mass ejection, Forbes reported.

Northern lights across the US states: What to expect?

According to the NOAA, the G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm conditions are "likely" for the day. It happens due to the high-speed winds, along with the "possible arrival" of coronal mass ejection from May 5.

These winds are from a less dense spot on the surface of the Sun. For Friday night's northern lights, the agency forecast a Kp index of three (Range 0 to 9).

On its official website, the NOAA has also put out two maps showcasing the Aurora Borealis and viewing for both May 9 and May 10.

It suggests that these will shift away from the poles. It is expected to be "quite pleasing to look" for those people who are in the right areas.

Moreover, there are chances of the Kp index touching five on the scale. This means, more states in the country get to witness the phenomenon, including Maine and South Dakota.

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Northern lights: US states to witness Aurora Borealis on May 9

In the United States, the areas that are above the viewline include several cities in the states of Washington, North Dakota, Montana, and Wisconsin.

Among other regions that have a low chance of seeing it are Idaho, Minnesota and Michigan. Meanwhile, places where the chances are high include Alaska and several regions of Canada.

Northern lights May 9 key timings

As per the NOAA, the aurora borealis is best experienced standing at a north-facing and high vantage point. People must ensure that this place remains away from light pollution. The peak timing is between 10 PM to 2 AM ET.

Experts suggest that people can use a regular camera along with a wide-angle lens to capture the phenomenon. Those trying to capture it via smartphones must ensure that their handsets have night mode enabled, while flash is turned off.

Earlier, NASA informed that the magnetic field of the planet was majorly disrupted in May last year due to the strongest geomagnetic storm over the past 20 years. Due to this activity, the northern lights shifted towards several regions like Texas and Florida.

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FAQs

What does Northern Lights mean?
This phenomenon takes place when the Sun's electrically charged particles collide with the upper atmosphere of the planet.

What's the best way to see the northern lights?
It is best visible from high-latitude regions, especially when it is dark and clear.