Topline
The northern lights could be visible from some northern U.S. states on Sunday night, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, although forecasters are currently not expecting any space weather that typically makes the lights visible further south.
The aurora has a low chance to be visible from some states along the U.S.-Canadian border on Sunday night.
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Key Facts
NOAA is forecasting a Kp index of four out of nine on Sunday night, meaning the aurora could appear brighter with more “motion and formations” in some places.
Forecasters at NOAA were not expecting any space weather events that could impact the aurora on Sunday night, according to the agency’s most recent three-day forecast, however, the agency did issue an alert for the higher expected Kp index on Sunday afternoon.
Where Could the Northern Lights Be Visible?
The aurora has a “low” likelihood of visibility for several states along the U.S.-Canadian border, according to NOAA’s forecast map. These include northern Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The lights also have a high likelihood of visibility from most of Alaska. However, the sun sets very late in Alaska during the summer months, meaning the night sky might not get dark enough for the aurora to become visible.
What’s the Best Way to View the Northern Lights?
Experts at NOAA recommend viewers travel as far north as possible to catch a glimpse of the aurora. Viewers should then position themselves on an ideal vantage point with a good view of the sky facing north, ideally as far away as possible from cities or other sources of bright lights. The aurora is most active in the hours just before and after midnight, according to NOAA, so viewers should try to search for the aurora between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
What’s the Best Way to Photograph the Northern Lights?
A photographer who spoke to National Geographic said viewers can take quality photos of the northern lights using smartphone cameras, provided they use the right equipment and settings. Photographers should remember to bring a tripod and remote timer when trying to capture images of the lights, as all cameras need to be held still for long periods of time to capture the aurora in the dark night sky. Smartphone users should also remember to turn off their flash settings, turn on night mode and shoot using RAW image format if possible.