The first full weekend of June is measuring up to be perfect for skygazers. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says June 6 and 7 will be a great time to catch the aurora borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, in certain parts of the United States. Alaska and Canada will have the best shot at seeing the colorful show in the sky on Friday night. On Saturday, even more Americans might be able to catch the northern lights in action. The NOAA says you might see the Northern Lights if you live in Washington, Montana, Idaho, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, or North Dakota.
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The Best Way To Watch The Northern Lights Is Away From The City
The Northern Lights can be seen most brightly between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. The colors are most vibrant and best viewed from a location void of pollution. So, if you can get away from the city and into the country in an area without many trees, you’ll have the best chance.
The NOAA shared two maps of what to expect for the northern lights this weekend, along with an explanation.
“The two maps show the aurora and viewline tonight and tomorrow night. The brightness and location of the aurora is typically shown as a green oval centered on Earth’s magnetic pole. The green ovals turn red when the aurora is forecast to be more intense. Aurora can often be observed somewhere on Earth from just after sunset or just before sunrise. The aurora is not visible during daylight hours,” the NOAA explained. “The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as 1000 km away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right.”
If you’re up North, stay up late this weekend and take in Mother Nature’s special art show.
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