The aurora borealis (northern lights) results from geomagnetic storms, which occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, creating brilliant waves of light in the sky. Still, their visibility depends on several factors, including intensity and location.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also some seasonal perks working in every skywatcher\u2019s favor, as the weeks surrounding the spring equinox \u2014 known as the \u201cequinox effect<\/a>\u201d \u2014 are known to spark geomagnetic disturbances that contribute to the aurora borealis.<\/p>\n As of now, minor solar flares and elevated electron levels have been detected, while solar wind \u2014 traveling hundreds of kilometers per second \u2014 continues to interact with Earth\u2019s magnetosphere.<\/p>\n This means that even the modest changes in this solar wind can occasionally spark auroras when charged particles collide with gases in the upper atmosphere.<\/p>\n So while tonight\u2019s conditions are expected to stay mostly quiet to slightly unsettled, NOAA forecasters<\/a> note that isolated active geomagnetic periods are possible, and auroras could briefly appear if weather conditions align.<\/p>\n In the meantime, here\u2019s everything you need to know about when, where and how to watch.<\/p>\n When will the northern lights be visible? The Aurora Borealis Geomagnetic conditions are expected to remain mostly quiet to unsettled between March 15th and March 18, but NOAA Space Weather forecasters say a brief active period is possible tonight, Monday, March 16.<\/p>\n Still, if auroras appear, they typically become visible after sunset and are often strongest closer to midnight local time, when Earth’s magnetic field aligns more favorably with incoming solar particles.<\/p>\n Remember, patience is everything when it comes to the aurora borealis.<\/p>\n Where will the northern lights be visible? The northern lights dancing in the winter skies Auroras are most common in high-latitude regions near the Arctic Circle, including Alaska, northern Canada and parts of Scandinavia.<\/p>\n During periods of heightened geomagnetic activity, however, the glowing bands can occasionally stretch farther south, which means if tonight’s solar wind disturbances intensify, observers across northern parts of the United States \u2014 particularly near the Canadian border \u2014 could have a small chance of spotting faint auroral glows low on the northern horizon.<\/p>\n How do you watch the northern lights? Aurora borealis display near Fairbanks, Alaska, USA Find a dark location away from city lights, ideally with a clear view of the northern sky.<\/p>\n The darker your surroundings, the more vivid the aurora colors will appear. Remember to also keep tabs on real-time conditions using NOAA\u2019s 30-minute aurora forecast<\/a> and space-weather apps that track solar wind and magnetic field changes.<\/p>\n How do you photograph the northern lights?<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need professional gear to capture the auroras… but it certainly helps!<\/p>\n If you’re hoping to photograph the northern lights, you’ll want to keep your setup as steady as possible, since the auroras are best captured with long exposures. But if you have a smartphone handy, that works just fine.<\/p>\n All you have to do is head to your device’s settings and tap the “Night Mode” option or \u201cPro Mode,\u201d which offers similar exposure times.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4137ee83863b05d3b1b654c66b9b52b1.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Leon Neal\/Getty<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/a282065d4f928ffd1378cee9ea1ab2ee.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Getty<\/p>\n![\"Aurora](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/fd27a656b943fff45db94fed215efdb6.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Gallo Images ROOTS Collection\/Getty<\/p>\n