A unique astronomical phenomenon will soon be visible across parts of the United States.
Outdoor enthusiasts have long planned epic trips to far-away destinations like Norway or Iceland in search of the northern lights, but for the next few nights, millions of Americans may get a chance to view them without having to travel at all. The aurora is forecast to be potentially visible from more than a dozen states across the north of the country on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.
The latest model predicts residents may be able to see the northern lights from Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Residents in Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine may also see the northern lights based on the placement of the “view line,” or the southern-most location from where you could potentially see the aurora on the northern horizon.
While the forecast for Oct. 28 is generally strong, the chance of residents in the contiguous U.S. seeing the northern lights is still considered “low.” Chances drop even lower for Oct. 29.
In Alaska, however, there was an “above average” chance to see the aurora on Tuesday night, followed by an “average” chance to see the lights on Wednesday and Thursday nights, according to Explore Fairbanks, which tracks aurora activity for the area.
In general, the best time to view the northern lights is between about 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to NOAA. You’ll also need clear, cloudless skies and very little light pollution. The northern lights are technically active year-round, but you need darkness and geomagnetic activity to be able to view them (so check the cloud forecast before setting an alarm).
“If the geomagnetic field is active, then the aurora will be brighter and further from the poles,” NOAA noted, adding the “hours of active aurora expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.”
One of the best places to see the northern lights is from a plane since aircraft typically fly above the clouds, creating the perfect viewing conditions. Cruises are another popular way to hunt for the northern lights since ships can bring travelers out to sea and away from light pollution.
For astro-fans not in the range of the northern lights during this event, there may be upcoming opportunities in your own backyard. The northern lights primarily appear in northern states, but they have been known to occasionally occur further south. As recently as September, solar storms brought northern lights viewing as far south as the Texas panhandle, according to a report from Chron.
The world is currently in the 11-year peak of aurora activity known as solar maximum. That has helped propel the trend of “noctourism.”
