Northern Lights Forecast: Here’s Where Aurora Could Be Visible Tuesday
The northern lights could be visible for some people in northern states again on Tuesday night, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as Earth experiences another night of possible geomagnetic storm conditions.
NOAA predicted a Kp index of four out of nine for Tuesday, meaning the northern lights could be visible and appear brighter or more active.
The agency’s most recent three-day forecast said minor geomagnetic storms were “likely” on Tuesday, which have a side effect of making the northern lights brighter and visible further south.
These storms are likely due to high speed solar winds coming from a coronal hole—relatively cooler regions of the Sun that appear darker in solar images.
Where Could the Aurora Be Visible Tuesday?
The northern lights have a “low” likelihood for visibility from some states along the U.S.-Canadian border, according to NOAA’s forecast map. These include northern Washington, Idaho, Montana, most of North Dakota and northern South Dakota. In the Midwest, parts of northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula also have a “low” likelihood chance to see the lights. Most of Alaska could also see the aurora on Tuesday, with a large part of the state falling within the “high” likelihood region for visibility.
What’s the Best Way to View the Aurora?
Experts at NOAA recommend viewers travel north, towards Earth’s magnetic north pole located in northern Canada. They should position themselves on an ideal vantage point—ideally a hill or other elevated area far from cities or other light sources and with a clear view of the night sky. The aurora is most active in the hours before and after midnight, typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to experts. They also note the best seasons to view the aurora are the weeks around the spring equinox in March and the autumnal equinox in September.
What’s the Best Way to Photograph the Aurora?
A photographer who spoke to National Geographic said viewers could use their smartphone cameras to take quality photos of the northern lights, provided they use the correct settings and equipment. Viewers should remember to set their devices to night mode, turn off flash and shoot in RAW image format. Photographers should also bring a tripod and a remote timer to stabilize their device for a longer period of time in order to capture photos in low light.