Look out for the Northern Lights to put on a stunning show this week

The sun is in a period of high activity, and that's great news for fans of the Northern Lights, a brilliant display that paints the sky with billowing streaks of green, red and purple. The sun just spewed out a major burst that could trigger a beautiful auroral event that could reach as far north as the United States.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued geomagnetic storm warnings for October 3-3. 5 after the sun's powerful X7.1 flare on October 1st. An X-class flare is the most intense. NASA estimates that the strongest known eruption was an X45 eruption in 2003. “Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy,” NASA said in a statement. “Flares and solar flares can disrupt radio communications, power grids and navigation signals, posing a danger to spacecraft and astronauts.” They can also create spectacular light shows.

Where can I see the Northern Lights?

The SWPC provides auroral forecasts with daily maps of expected activity. For example, the map for October 3 shows a high probability of auroras in Alaska and Canada, represented by red areas. Northern states – including Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Upper Michigan – are in a green zone, indicating a lower chance of auroras. It's still worth taking a look if you live in these areas and the skies are clear.

The approaching geomagnetic storm could expand the aurora viewing area southward, especially on October 4th. “The aurora could become visible over many northern states and some parts of the lower Midwest as far south as Oregon,” the Space Weather Prediction Center said on with a photo. Your phone may be able to see it better than you.

Tips for observing the Northern Lights

Northern lights can be moody. Location is an important factor. The closer you get to the heart of the matter, the better. For this reason, places like Alaska, Iceland, and northern Canada are hotspots for aurora viewing. Sometimes strong northern lights are visible far further south than usual. Escape the light pollution of cities. Look north after dark for the best chance of catching a glimpse. NOAA recommends aiming for a few hours on either side of midnight. Because of this, catching the Northern Lights can be difficult.

If you live in the northern part of the US and don't normally get to see the Northern Lights, the next few days could be an opportunity to see the phenomenon without having to travel. Check with SWPC for daily forecast.

Even if you miss the Northern Lights, there's still plenty going on in the night sky this month. Check out our October 2024 skywatching guide.