How to Watch the First Northern Lights of August Tonight
The northern lights will be active on Friday, Aug. 1, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s forecast
The rare, colorful display is expected to be visible from Earth in select location across the United States
The northern lights have a three on the Kp-index that ranges from zero to nine, which means the auroras can be "quite pleasing to look at" under perfect conditionsThe cosmos are sizzling this August!
The month is starting off strong with another round of northern lights, expected to color the night sky across several parts of the United States on Friday, Aug. 1, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s forecast.
The astronomical event, also known as the aurora borealis, is forecast a three on the Kp-index that ranges from zero to nine. This means that the display can be "quite pleasing to look at" under perfect conditions.
Those who reside in the northernmost areas of the U.S. have greater chances at catching a glimpse of the display if the weather aligns, meaning no clouds or rain that could hinder visibility from Earth. It's important to avoid light pollution, too, which could drown out the vibrant hues.
Artificial light pollution aside, like city lights, the moon's glow could also negatively impact the auroras. Fortunately, this month's full moon — nicknamed the Sturgeon Moon — doesn't peak until Aug. 9, so it's currently only 49% illuminated as it's amid its waxing crescent phase.
The chance to watch the northern lights from several parts of the U.S. is a rare phenomenon, however, there's many many opportunities across the country in the last year alone. Most recently, NOAA's forecast predicted visibility for northern areas on July 30.
Now, read on for how to watch the northern lights tonight!
When will the northern lights be visible?
The northern lights are expected to be visible on Friday evening, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s forecast.
For the best chances at spotting them, cast your eyes to the sky in the hours before and after midnight, specifically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. Note, it's impossible to view the auroras during daylight hours — so darkest is best!
Since the northern lights have a three on the Kp-index, the auroras will move further away from the poles and have the potential to be "quite pleasing to look at" under perfect conditions.
Where will the northern lights be visible?
Skywatchers who live in the northernmost areas of the country have the best chances at viewing the colorful display from Earth tonight.
Locations include Alaska, the northeastern tip of Washington, northern Idaho, northern Montana, most of North Dakota, Minnesota and northern Wisconsin. (Be sure to check NOAA's aurora forecast for the most accurate updates throughout the night.)
How to watch the northern lights?
The best part about the northern lights is that no advanced technology is necessary to spot them from Earth. Simply all that's needed is the naked eye, a dark viewpoint and a state that's in NOAA's predicted aurora viewline.
Then, all sky gazers have to do is point their eyes to the sky and look up!
How to take photos of the northern lights?
If you didn't take a photo of the northern lights, did you really see them in person? Fortunately, many smartphones have the technological capability to capture the auroras with a simple click of a button!
All smartphone users have to do is switch on the "Night Mode" settings on the device. Then, point the lens to the sky and snap away!
Read the original article on People
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Sturgeon Moon 2025: How To Best See August's Lunar Show
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The night sky will offer a dazzling celestial display over the weekend as the Sturgeon Moon rises. Here's how to catch it at its brightest. Reaching its peak illumination at 3:55 a.m. EDT on August 9 the Sturgeon Moon will be best visible at dusk. For the best view, look up at the sky on the evening of Friday, August 8. August's full moon is named after the sturgeon, North America's biggest freshwater fish, which appears in large numbers at this time of the year. It's also known as the Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon and Red Moon, the latter referring to the reddish tint it can take on in the hazy summer atmosphere. The Sturgeon Moon will appear in the constellation Aquarius and won't rise very high above the horizon. This gives the opportunity to see the "Moon illusion"—a visual effect that makes the moon look unusually large, even though it isn't. A stock image shows August's full moon, the Sturgeon Moon, which will illuminate the night skies on August 9. A stock image shows August's full moon, the Sturgeon Moon, which will illuminate the night skies on August 9. getty images Where to See the Sturgeon Moon The Sturgeon Moon is best seen from an elevated location, like an open field or an east-facing coastline with a clear view of the eastern horizon. While the naked eye works for this annual lunar event, binoculars or a small telescope can offer a much better view. Don't worry if you're not able to catch it on Saturday, the Sturgeon Moon will look full the night before, and the night after. The ideal time to view it depends on where you are. In New York, the moon will rise at 8:03 p.m. ET on August 8 and at 8:32 p.m. ET on August 9. In Los Angeles, moonrise will occur at 7:48 p.m. PT on August 8 and at 8:21 p.m. PT on August 9. On the night of August 9, New York City is currently expected to have clear skies all along, same goes for Los Angeles and Phoenix. When Is the Next Full Moon? After the Sturgeon Moon on August 9, 2025, the next full moon will be the Corn Moon, visible on September 7, 2025. September's Full Moon gets its name from the time of year when crops are traditionally harvested at the end of summer. D uring this period, the Moon shines especially brightly and rises early in the evening, giving farmers extra light to work into the night. It's also known as the Barley Moon. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Moon? Let us know via science@
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Haunting Underwater Voice Remains Mystery 25 Years Later (Listen)
The mysteries of the world's oceans are as vast as the seas themselves, spreading across more than 70% of the earth's surface, and still to this day, remaining largely unexplored. And one unknown occurrence has remained unanswered for 25 years. Back in 1991, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration captured an underwater sound off the Pacific Ocean, near the equator, eerily resembling that of a woman. As such, they named the phenomenon 'Julia.' And still, they've been scratching their heads as to what may have caused the anomalous noise. Hear it below. Of course, online, conspiracy theorists have their ideas about what the sound may be. Like on Reddit, where some users commented and cautioned: 'So T-Rex didn't go extinct. He moved into the ocean to escape the heat from the apocalypse and is now a fish. Got it.' 'This is terrifying.... It's why you'll never find my ass out on a cruise ship. No thank you.' 'What could be causing that? Could it be something similar to the big blip, or like an under water eruption?' 'RELEASE THE KRAKEN!'In reality, the experts at NOAA do have a pretty distinct idea of what the mysterious sound may be. They believe it was the sound of an iceberg grounding on the seafloor. NOAA continued: 'This sound was recorded on March 1, 1999 on the eastern equatorial Pacific autonomous hydrophone array. The most likely source of the sound formerly known as 'Julia' is a large iceberg that has run aground off Antarctica. Due to the uncertainty of the arrival azimuth, the point of origin could be between Bransfield Straits and Cape Adare with an origin time of 1999 JD60 21:05GMT.' Or, just maybe, there's more secrets in the ocean's depths that we've yet to Underwater Voice Remains Mystery 25 Years Later (Listen) first appeared on Surfer on Aug 4, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tropical Storm Dexter Has Formed in the Atlantic — Here's Where It's Expected to Go and When
Forecasters believe the storm will continue moving in the same general direction over the next few daysNEED TO KNOW Tropical Storm Dexter has formed in the Atlantic, making it the fourth named storm of the season The storm developed late on Sunday, Aug. 3 and is expected to continue moving to the northeast NOAA has predicted there will be between 13 and 19 named storms in the Atlantic this hurricane season, which began June 1A new tropical storm has formed off the coast of the United States. Tropical Storm Dexter developed late on Sunday, Aug. 3, according to The Weather Channel and FOX Weather. As of the morning of Monday, Aug. 4, the storm was located about 250 miles west of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Fla. By the afternoon, the storm was 275 miles away from Bermuda. The storm is currently moving northeast, away from the United States, at about 14 mph, a pattern that is expected to continue for the next few days. 'Some slight strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days,' forecasters said, 'but Dexter is likely to become a post-tropical cyclone by the middle to latter portion of this week.' Despite the fact that it's moving away from the United States, Fox Weather reported that rip tides will pose a threat to beachgoers across the East Coast from New York to South Florida. The storm is expected to dissipate in the Atlantic Ocean over the course of the week, according to Fox affiliate WTVT-TV. This is just the fourth named storm in the Atlantic since the hurricane season began on June 1. Storms are named once they reach tropical storm status, which occurs when a storm reaches maximum sustained surface winds of at least 39 mph, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Earlier this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a 60% chance of an above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic. The agency predicted there would be between 13 and 19 total named storms, with six to 10 of them becoming hurricanes. Three to five of those hurricanes are forecast to be major hurricanes, which have winds of 111 mph or higher. At the time, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said forecasters 'have never been more prepared for hurricane season.' 'NOAA and the National Weather Service are using the most advanced weather models and cutting-edge hurricane tracking systems to provide Americans with real-time storm forecasts and warnings,' Lutnick said. The NHC also says there is a chance for two more systems in the Atlantic to develop into tropical cyclones in the next week or so. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The first disturbance is located in the Central Atlantic, and has a 50% chance of developing within the next seven days as it heads west-northwest. Forecasters say it could develop into a tropical depression 'by the latter portion of this week." The second disturbance is located just off the coasts of northeastern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. This 'broad area of low pressure' has a 30% chance of developing over the next seven days as it 'slowly moves' to the west. Read the original article on People
