Summary
People in certain U.S. states might see the northern lights tonight. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says these lights could be visible as far south as Iowa and South Dakota due to geomagnetic activity.
Key Facts
- The northern lights, or aurora borealis, might be visible from parts of the U.S., including states like Iowa and South Dakota.
- NOAA forecasts a geomagnetic activity level of five on the Kp index, which measures disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field.
- States where the northern lights could be seen include Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- A bright green color on a NOAA map shows areas where the lights may appear overhead, while red areas show where they might be more intense.
- The northern lights are caused by electrons colliding with the Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light.
- Auroras form between 80 and 500 kilometers above the Earth and can sometimes be seen from 1,000 kilometers away.
- The Earth’s magnetic field helps shape where the auroras form and they expand toward the equator during strong geomagnetic storms.
- Statistically, March and September are the best months to see the northern lights, with visibility usually best around midnight.
