By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN, AP Science Writer<\/p>\n
NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Solar storms may bring colorful auroras to several northern U.S. states Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The sun burped out a huge burst of energy called a coronal mass ejection that\u2019s currently on its way to Earth, prompting space weather forecasters to issue a strong geomagnetic storm watch. It\u2019s expected to arrive between Thursday evening and Friday morning.<\/p>\n
How bright the auroras are and how far south they are visible will depend on when the solar burst gets here and how it interacts with Earth. If the timing is right, it\u2019s possible auroras will \u201cquite likely spin up overnight,\u201d Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<\/a>, said in an email.<\/p>\n Authorities are monitoring the situation, but do not anticipate major disruptions to radio or communications signals, Dahl said.<\/p>\n Auroras could be visible \u2014 especially in darker, rural areas \u2014 in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and northern parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.<\/p>\n The moon is close to Earth and bright in the sky, which could make it harder to spot auroras. Northern lights could be visible on Friday night as well, depending on the solar activity.<\/p>\n How northern lights happen<\/p>\n The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.<\/p>\n Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth\u2019s atmosphere.<\/p>\n Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major facelift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.<\/p>\n Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places<\/a> including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.<\/p>\n The sun\u2019s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won\u2019t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA.<\/p>\n Severe storms are capable of scrambling radio and GPS communications.<\/p>\n How to see auroras<\/p>\n Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center website<\/a> or an aurora forecasting app.<\/p>\n Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.<\/p>\n Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren\u2019t visible to the naked eye.<\/p>\n If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. 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