How to Watch the Northern Lights from 11 States Tomorrow

A burst of solar material released on Sept. 28 is expected to skim past Earth late Thursday, Oct. 1 into early Friday, Oct. 2, potentially stirring our planet’s magnetic field just enough to spark northern lights across parts of the U.S.

NEED TO KNOW

• A solar eruption could trigger minor geomagnetic storm conditions from Thursday evening into early Friday
• Alaska, Canada and northern states have the best viewing odds, with stronger activity possibly reaching farther south
• Dark skies, a clear northern horizon and smartphone night mode can improve your chances of seeing the aurora

The sky’s about to put on another show, so be sure to look up!

A burst of solar material released on Sept. 28 is expected to skim past Earth late Thursday, Oct. 1, into early Friday, Oct. 2, potentially stirring our planet’s magnetic field just enough to spark northern lights across parts of the U.S. and Canada.

For reference, the northern lights (aurora borealis) are a result of geomagnetic storms, which occur when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating brilliant waves of light in the sky. More importantly, their visibility depends on several factors, including intensity and location.

Although this isn’t a head-on collision, the celestial cameo is still possible. NOAA forecasts still see a chance of minor storm activity, with a slight possibility of stronger intervals if conditions line up.

The timing couldn’t be better considering this arrives on the heels of the Harvest Moon, and while the planet Saturn is at its annual opposition, glimmering brightly in the sky.

In the meantime, read on for everything you need to know about this cosmic spectacle.

When will the northern lights be visible?

Are you ready for an autumn sky show?

The best window for viewing begins Thursday evening, Oct. 1, and continues into early Friday, Oct. 2, though the exact timing depends on when the CME’s outer edge reaches Earth.

NOAA forecasters expect G1, or minor, geomagnetic-storm conditions on Oct. 2, while the U.K. Met Office also sees a chance of G1 activity and a smaller chance of G2 conditions, between Oct. 1 and 2, per SpaceWeather.org.

Where will the northern lights be visible?

At G1 levels, the best odds are in Alaska, Canada, and the northernmost U.S., specifically Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, or locations close to the Canadian border.

Now, if activity reaches G2, the aurora could stretch farther south, potentially into parts of Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Find a dark spot with a clear view of the northern horizon… and remember, cloud cover and real-time solar-wind conditions always get the final say.

How to watch the northern lights?

First things first: you’re going to want to find a dark location away from city lights, ideally with a clear view of the northern sky.

As always, the darker your surroundings, the more vivid the aurora colors will appear.

Remember you can also keep tabs on real-time conditions using NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast and space-weather apps that track solar wind and magnetic field changes.

How to photograph the northern lights?

If you’re using a smartphone device, switch to night mode or long exposure mode and hold the camera as still as possible — ideally with a tripod or by propping it against something stable. All you have to do is head to your device’s settings and tap the “Night Mode” option or “Pro Mode,” which offers similar exposure times.

You’ll want to keep your setup as steady as possible, since the auroras are best captured with long exposures.

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