Aurora Could Be Visible From These 10 States

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The northern lights could be visible from the states along the U.S.-Canadian border, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as high speed solar winds could potentially make the aurora appear brighter.

The aurora borealis could be spotted from states along the U.S.-Canadian border on Sunday night, according to NOAA.

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NOAA predicted a Kp index of four out of nine for Sunday night, meaning the lights will be visible further south from the magnetic north pole and appear brighter with more “motions and formations.”

NOAA also expects minor geomagnetic storms early on Saturday morning—up to a G1 out of five on NOAA’s scale measuring their intensity, according to the agency’s three-day forecast.

What Is Influencing The Aurora Sunday?

Forecasters are expecting high speed streams from a coronal hole on Sunday night. These refer to high speed solar winds that come from regions of the Sun’s corona, its outermost atmosphere. These regions are relatively cooler and denser than other parts of the Sun and have unipolar magnetic fields. When these streams interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, they can cause geomagnetic storms. The storms expected on Saturday morning will likely be mild, but even these can cause the northern lights to appear visible further south.

Where Could The Aurora Be Visible?

With a Kp index of four, the aurora could be visible from states along the U.S.-Canada border on Sunday night. These include northern Washington, the Idaho Panhandle, most of Montana, North Dakota and northern South Dakota. They could also be visible from northern portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. On the East Coast, viewers in northern Maine may be able to see the lights. Viewers in most of Alaska could also potentially see the aurora.

What’s The Best Way To View The Aurora?

Prospective northern lights viewers should travel as far north as possible, toward Earth’s magnetic north pole located in Canada. They should find a vantage point with a clear view of the night sky, as the lights can be visible up to 600 miles south from where they appear, according to experts at NOAA. Viewers should also aim to watch the aurora during the hours it is most active—typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

What’s The Best Way To Photograph The Aurora?

Smartphone cameras are capable of capturing quality photos of the northern lights, experts who spoke to National Geographic said. Experts recommend would-be photographers turn off flash, use their device’s night mode and shoot in RAW image format. They also recommend setting the device on a tripod and using a remote timer to capture better photos.