Photos show northern lights visible in night sky across much of US
— Tyler Leavitt owner of tslclick.com (@tslclick)
NORTHERN LIGHTS tonight! reminder for 🇨🇦 & 27 🇺🇸 states, as far south as Alabama 😳
They are worth seeing, never know when you'll be able to next!
I saw last night
— Tomahawk (@Oskth04)
We could see the Northern lights (aurora borealis) from the Grand Teton National Park.
A massive geomagnetic storm fueled by an ongoing coronal mass ejection brought the lights to much of the northern U.S. over the weekend.
— Gage Goulding - KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding)
Northern lights 6/1/2025
— Brian Morris (@BsauceSays)
Julia Capraro can be reached at
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Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Northern Lights On Tuesday: 14 U.S. States On Aurora Alert
Aurora borealis, also known as Northern Lights, illuminates the night sky above the Kellostapuli ... More Fell in Kolari, Finnish Lapland, early on January 15, 2022. (Photo by IRENE STACHON/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images) The Northern Lights may be visible in northern U.S. state and central Canada on Tuesday night, according to a forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center. Sky-watchers in 14 U.S. states may have a chance to see the aurora borealis on the northern horizon as soon as it gets dark, though astronomical twilight often persists much of the night above about 50 degrees north latitude in July. Latest Northern Lights Forecast The agency's three-day forecast indicates a minor geomagnetic storm, measured at a value of G1 on a scale of G1 to G5. According to NOAA's forecast, the Kp index — which provides a rough guide to the intensity of auroral displays — may reach 5. In a discussion post, NOAA officials stated that a G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm is most likely on July 23 UTC, which translates to late on July 22 for North America. The 'unsettled to active' geomagnetic conditions — minor disturbances in Earth's magnetic field — could continue through Thursday, according to NOAA. NOAA's aurora viewline for July 22, 2025. Where The Northern Lights May Be Visible NOAA's latest aurora viewlines indicate that aurora displays are a possibility in northern U.S. states and Canada, with 14 U.S. states having a chance after dark on Tuesday, July 22. U.S. states that may see aurora include (northerly parts of) Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Areas far from light pollution are likely to offer the best views. However, high-latitude locations — such as Alaska, northern Canada Scandinavia and Iceland — will have a better chance. Check NOAA's 30-minute forecast or use the Glendale App for the latest forecasts. Why The Northern Lights Are Being Seen In The U.S. The imminent potential display of aurora is due to a high-speed stream of solar wind coming from a coronal hole — a gap in the sun's outer atmosphere, its corona, where solar wind escapes more freely into space. It's also of 'negative polarity,' which means its magnetic field is orientated in such a way that interactions with Earth's magnetic field are enhanced, if aligned just right. More generally, the possibility of displays of the aurora borealis at more southerly latitudes than is typically down to an increase in solar activity, which is currently at a 23-year high due to the ongoing solar maximum period. The sun is now thought to be on the wane, having peaked in late 2024, but solar maximum periods often have double peaks. Besides, the best aurora displays often occur in the few years after solar maximum. If the current solar cycle does have a long tail, good aurora sightings in the U.S. could result for a few years. What Causes The Northern Lights The Northern Lights are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. Although the magnetic field deflects much of it, some charged particles accelerate along the magnetic field lines toward the polar regions, where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, exciting them and causing them to release energy as light. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Northern lights could be visible in Oklahoma tonight. Here's how to watch
The night sky had a few more colors than usual, and in case you missed it, you may have another chance tonight. The northern lights are caused by solar flares that reach Earth. When the flares get close enough to Earth's atmosphere, the planet's magnetic field protects us from the high-speed electrons and protons. The magnetic field redirects the recent activity to the north and south poles, making it almost pertinent to view the lights immediately following the activity. While Wednesday, July 16, had a higher likelihood of visibility, another coronal mass ejection is set to strike late on July 17. Here's what to expect for Monday night's light show. More: Dazzling northern lights display captured on video: Watch enchanting time-lapse footage Will the northern lights be visible in Oklahoma? It's possible! Sunday night's light show was more active than predicted for Monday night, but active levels are still forecast for tonight. According to the NOAA, geomagnetic activity is forecast to start at 6 p.m. CT. However, when the sun sets at 8:45 p.m., a peak is expected from 9 p.m. until midnight. The best chance of seeing auroras late at night is to look north between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time, and away from city lights. This far south, the lights are best seen with a camera, even the one that comes equipped with your smartphone. Although some maps and forecasts have predicted low visibility in southern states, some Oklahomans have still documented nights throughout the summer when they saw the lights in the late-night hours. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NOAA northern lights forecast: Will we see them in Oklahoma tonight? Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
6 days ago
- Forbes
Northern Lights Update: These States May See Aurora Borealis Thursday
The northern lights could appear in several states in the northern U.S. on Thursday night, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as the Perseids meteor shower may also appear in the night sky. The possible aurora borealis coincides with the Perseids meteor shower, with hundreds of meteors ... More likely visible in the night sky during its peak. Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images NOAA forecast a Kp index of three on a scale of nine for Thursday night, as the aurora could become 'brighter' and be seen farther from the poles. The agency said the Kp index could reach nearly four early Friday morning, potentially pulling the northern lights farther south, though NOAA expects no geomagnetic storms or significant transient or recurrent solar winds to disrupt the Earth's geomagnetic field. Quieter auroral activity is forecast through the early weekend, with a maximum Kp index of just over two forecast for Friday and Saturday nights, according to NOAA. A higher chance of seeing the northern lights is forecast across northern Canada and Alaska, once the sun sets in the state. A lesser chance is forecast in parts of northern Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. (See map below.) Thursday night's view line. NOAA NOAA recommends traveling to a high, north-facing vantage point away from light pollution sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. What's The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights? Photography experts told National Geographic it's best to use a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting. With a smartphone, NOAA recommends enabling night mode, disabling flash and relying on a tripod to stabilize the image. Key Background Stronger auroral displays are expected through early 2026 after activity on the sun's surface reached a 'solar maximum' late last year, NOAA and NASA said. This peak marks an increase in solar events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which are responsible for disrupting Earth's geomagnetic field and creating the northern lights. A 'solar maximum' occurs throughout the sun's 11-year cycle, and the latest peak surpassed projections by NOAA and NASA, which said auroral displays hit a 500-year peak in 2024. What To Watch For Northern lights displays this week coincide with the Perseids meteor shower, which is expected to begin Thursday night. The meteor shower's peak night is forecast between Aug. 12-13, when hundreds of meteors may be visible across the night sky. Further Reading Forbes Two Meteor Showers Begin This Week — How To See Summer's 'Shooting Stars' By Jamie Carter Forbes Northern Lights Displays Hit A 500-Year Peak In 2024—Here's Where You Could Catch Aurora Borealis In 2025 By Ty Roush
