The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, may be visible in nearly 19 U.S. states tonight, Wednesday, March 18, into Thursday, March 19, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
The aurora borealis is the result of a geomagnetic storm that occurs when a coronal mass ejection (CME), an eruption of solar material, reaches Earth and causes swaths of green, blue, and purple colors to appear in the dark sky. We are currently seeing increased solar activity as the result of an 11-year sun cycle peak.
NOAA says this G2 (moderate geomagnetic) storm is partially thanks to Friday’s upcoming spring equinox, or “the equinox effect.” The effect doubles the chance of auroras when Earth tilts its axis, thereby causing the planet’s magnetic field to better align in a way to uptake solar material.
Where will the northern lights be visible?
According to NOAA’s map, a total of 19 states are in the line of view for the aurora borealis tonight.
Those states are Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and northern parts of Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
When is the best time to see the aurora borealis?
For the best viewing, NOAA recommends facing north, in a spot away from light pollution, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
You can track the aurora borealis on the NOAA website, where the agency is providing updates and visibility in real time, with a 30-minute aurora forecast.
