States where Aurora Borealis could be visible tonight

Topline

A powerful solar flare, slightly less powerful than the one that caused May's blinding lights, is expected to lead to intense northern lights sightings in several U.S. states over the next few days.

Important facts

Surprising fact

The sun produced a solar flare of magnitude X9.0 on Wednesday, surpassing May's flare and becoming the most powerful flare of solar cycle 25. Since it was aimed at Earth, even stronger northern lights are expected in the coming days.

Where will the Northern Lights be visible?

Although it's hard to say where the Northern Lights will be seen, they could be most visible in Canada and Alaska on Thursday evening (see image below), according to NOAA. However, continental U.S. states within the aurora's line of sight include Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine .

What is the best way to see the Northern Lights?

The lights are typically most active between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. To get the best views of the Northern Lights, the agency recommends traveling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights and other light pollution, and monitoring weather forecasts for optimal viewing conditions, finding a position on a vantage point such as a hill.

What is the best way to photograph the Northern Lights?

Smartphone cameras are sensitive enough to detect the northern lights, even if they are invisible to the naked eye. Visit Island, a tourist website for Iceland, where the lights are often visible, recommends turning on night mode to optimally increase smartphone camera exposure.

Important background

Solar Cycle 25 – the cycle the sun goes through about every 11 years – was the cause of geomagnetic storms that recently led to sightings of the northern lights, and NASA predicts this cycle will continue into next year. Cycle 25 began in December 2019 and is estimated to peak between late 2024 and early 2026 – when activity is expected to peak. The peak is expected to reach 115 sunspots where geomagnetic storms form. Although the maximum has not yet been reached, the sun's activity has been stronger than scientists expected, so it is possible that there will be more geomagnetic storms through 2026, although it is difficult to predict exactly when these storms will occur.

Big number

215.5. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, there were that many daily sunspots in August. This is the highest monthly sunspot count since Solar Cycle 23, with an average of 238.2 spots in 2003.