If you’re looking for something different to do on a Friday night, you’re in luck.
Grab a blanket and head outside because the illustrious Northern Lights will be visible tonight. Typically, you would have to be in Iceland to gaze at the wondrous lights, but you can save your money and see them right here in the U.S.
Seeing them from the states is quite rare but thanks to a geomagnetic storm, solar winds are interacting with particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, which makes them glow. It’s going to be hard to tell the length of the light’s visibility; it all depends on the KP Number of the storm. The scale is between one and nine, and this storm is expected to be at an estimated KP-5.
The number is important because it helps to determine where the lights will be visible in the US. According to the chart, residents in Alaska, Montana, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Michigan are going to get lucky. Viewers in northern Maine and some parts of northern New York will be able to see them too.
If you’re flying, get close to a window because you may be able to see the Northern Lights from the sky. Some routes will pass through the light’s path. Flights from East Asia to the northeastern US, specifically. To get a really good look, hop on an overnight flight heading east, as pilots will be sure to point it out if visible.
The show is set to take place tonight on through the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 10.
