Topline
There may be a chance to see the Northern Lights in certain U.S. states Thursday night ahead of a geomagnetic storm watch that may coincide with the Perseid meteor shower this weekend.
Key Facts
A group of coronal mass ejections— eruptions of solar material—were released by some overactive sunspots Wednesday, and are expected to appear this weekend.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm watch for Friday and Saturday, but there may be a chance to see the Northern Lights Thursday night.
Thursday night’s aurora has a KP index of four, meaning the lights will move further from the poles and appear brighter to observers, causing them to be “pleasing to look at” under the correct viewing conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
This weekend’s aurora may coincide with the Perseid meteor shower, which is expected to peak between Sunday night and Monday morning, but the shower may still be visible in the days leading up to the peak.
Solar activity has been unusually busy in recent months as the sun’s 11-year solar cycle approaches its anticipated peak between late 2024 and early 2026, with sunspots expected to intensify over the next year, and likely triggering more geomagnetic storms.
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Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible Tonight?
Although it’s difficult to pinpoint where the Northern Lights will be visible, they may be the most visible Tuesday night in Canada and Alaska, according to NOAA (see image below). However, continental U.S. states within the aurora’s view line include Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine and the northernmost part of New York.
What’s The Best Way To See The Northern Lights?
The lights are typically the most active between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. For the best views of the Northern Lights, the agency advises traveling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights and other light pollution, monitoring weather forecasts for prime viewing conditions and finding a position on a vantage point like a hilltop.
What’s The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights?
Smartphone cameras are sensitive enough to pick up the aurora, even when it’s invisible to the naked eye. Visit Iceland, a tourist website for Iceland, where the lights are often visible, advises turning on night mode to best increase smartphone camera exposure.
Key Background
Solar Cycle 25—the cycle the sun goes through around every 11 years—has been the cause of geomagnetic storms that have resulted in recent sightings of the Northern Lights, and NASA predicts it will continue on into next year. Cycle 25 began in Dec. 2019, and it’s estimated it will reach its maximum—when activity is expected to peak—between late 2024 and early 2026. It’s projected to peak with 115 sunspots, which are where geomagnetic storms originate. Although the maximum hasn’t happened yet, the sun’s activity has been busier than scientists anticipated, so it’s possible there will be even more geomagnetic storms leading up to 2025, though it’s difficult to predict exactly when these storms will occur.
