NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center expects its arrival to spark up G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm conditions overnight, with a chance that activity could strengthen to G2 (moderate) levels early Friday, Oct. 9.<\/p>\n
This means part of the northern U.S. and Canada could get another round of northern lights, although the sky show is probably more camera-friendly than visible to the naked eye.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
For reference, the aurora borealis (the northern lights) are a result of geomagnetic storms, which occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in the Earth\u2019s<\/a> atmosphere, creating brilliant waves of light in the sky.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, their visibility depends on several factors, including intensity and location.<\/p>\n When will the northern lights be visible? Aurora BorealisCredit: Getty<\/p>\n NOAA forecasts geomagnetic activity to ramp up around 11 p.m. ET tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 8, with a potentially stronger window around 5 a.m. ET Friday, Oct. 9.\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, the exact arrival time of a CME can shift, so be sure to check NOAA\u2019s Aurora Dashboard<\/a> before heading out and give yourself a viewing window overnight.<\/p>\n Where will the northern lights be visible? The aurora borealisCredit: Jeremy Hogan\/Getty<\/p>\n Under G1 (minor) conditions, the best odds are in Alaska, Canada, and northern-tier states, including Washington, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.<\/p>\n If the storm reaches G2 strength, however, the auroral oval could push farther south toward Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and New York.\u00a0<\/p>\n Be sure to look toward the northern horizon from the darkest location possible.<\/p>\n Remember, your smartphone\u2019s Night Mode could pick up color before your eyes do.<\/p>\n How to watch the northern lights? Northern LightsCredit: Ross Harried\/NurPhoto via Getty<\/p>\n 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 to photograph the northern lights?<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need professional gear to capture the auroras… but it certainly helps!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re hoping to photograph the northern lights, you\u2019ll 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\u2019s settings and tap the \u201cNight Mode\u201d option or \u201cPro Mode\u201d with similar exposure times.<\/p>\n![\"Aurora](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/08ea1de8-ea18-4743-b239-7f388a7452f2.jpg\"\/)
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