The Northern Lights mesmerized sky watchers across much of the US last night as they made a thrilling appearance in states as far south as Florida. But if you missed it last night, don’t worry, as the Space Weather Prediction Center predicts, the sky is going to brighten up again tonight as another burst of geomagnetic energy is about to occur.
Dress warmly, choose a dark, secluded spot and keep reading to find out when and how you can see the northern lights tonight.
When are the northern lights?
Tonight, November 12, the northern lights are returning to North American skies. The Space Weather Prediction Center is predicting a “severe” geomagnetic storm, meaning the likelihood of the northern lights occurring is quite high.
Geomagnetic activity is measured by the planetary K index or Kp. It ranges from 0 to 9, with higher numbers indicating stronger activity and a greater chance of seeing auroras across the United States. Tonight’s activity is forecast to reach KP8, meaning the northern lights may move away from the poles and appear bright and active even in northern parts of the U.S. According to these data, the northern lights should peak at 10 pm ET.
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Where will the northern lights be seen?
Northern states have a higher chance of seeing the northern lights tonight, according to maps from the Space Weather Prediction Center. However, social media posts from last night revealed that people as far away as South Florida managed to catch a glimpse of them.
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These maps show a line of sight cutting roughly through Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, and Maine. There is a high chance of seeing the Northern Lights anywhere above this line, but this is an estimate, not a hard and fast limit. And if you live a little further south with 8 KP, don’t despair, you might get lucky…
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What causes the northern lights?
The Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, is a natural light phenomenon that appears in the night sky, most often near the polar regions. NASA explained that the display occurs when charged solar particles interact with Earth’s atmosphere, producing glowing streaks of green, pink and purple that ripple and move upward.
Tips for seeing the northern lights
Getting a glimpse of the northern lights can be a matter of good fortune. There are a lot of elements involved, including your local forecast and cloud coverage, but there are a few things you can do to help. As always with these events, stay away from light pollution as much as possible, and don’t forget to give your eyes time to adjust. The Space Weather Prediction Center also suggests that the best time to view the auroras is usually between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, when the displays are most active.