Set your eyes on the heavens. Parts of the United States may have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights again this year – just in time to coincide with the Perseid meteor shower.
According to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center released Friday, solar activity could reach sufficiently high levels that the aurora borealis can be visible throughout the country.
The SWPC also issued a geomagnetic storm watch from Friday to Sunday, suggesting that the Sun’s activity may disturb Earth’s magnetic field enough to create conditions in which the northern lights can be seen much further south than normal.
What are the northern lights? What causes them?
Also called the aurora borealis, the northern lights are bright, colorful patterns in the sky. They happen when charged particles from the Sun hit Earth’s atmosphere and collide with gases, creating the vivid image we see in the sky.
The Northern Lights were visible in May when a geomagnetic storm allowed people across the United States as far south as Alabama to see the lights in all their colorful glory.
Where can you see the northern lights
Typically, the northern lights are most visible in northern regions because Earth’s magnetic field pushes charged particles from the Sun toward the magnetic poles. However, sometimes solar activity is strong enough to make these awe-inspiring lights visible in parts of the continental United States.
If the geomagnetic storm is as strong as predicted, people in 15 states could see the lights, SWPC notes.
Parts of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine should have views of the lights. Northeastern Oregon will also be able to see the lights.
While it may be theoretically possible to see the lights in Washington, they may be obscured due to recent wildfire smoke.
What is the best way to see the Northern Lights?
The best way to see the Northern Lights is to look for a dark spot away from any light pollution. Try to search the sky around 10pm to 2am, when the sky is darkest.
You might want to put down your phone to enjoy that amazing view – but this is one case where you might want to capture the moment. Modern phone cameras have long exposureswhich can help us see light that may be too dim to be captured by the human eye. So if you think you’re in a place where the lights should be visible, but you can’t make them out in the sky, take a photo and see if some colors appear.
You can also see the Perseid meteor shower this week
The Perseids will soon reach their peak. You will be able to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower and may see up to 100 shooting stars per hour.
In the Northern Hemisphere, anyone hoping to see rain should go out between midnight and dawn and give their eyes 45 minutes to adjust to the dark. Unlike the Northern Lights, you’ll want to skip the phone and stargaze without technology or any bright lights.
