Topline
The northern lights have a moderate chance to appear for viewers in the northern United States on Sunday night, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted, coinciding with meteor showers potentially visible in the summer night skies.
The aurora visible over Fairbanks, Alaska in March.
Key Facts
Forecasters at NOAA issued a Kp index of three out of nine for Sunday night, meaning the aurora could become “brighter” with “more auroral activity (motion and formations).”
The aurora was likely much more active Saturday night due to the presence of a geomagnetic storm, NOAA said, but several states in the Upper Midwest and Alaska could still see auroral activity on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the Piscis Austrinid meteor shower is expected to peak in the early morning hours of Monday morning.
NOAA’s viewing line for Sunday night.
Which States Could See The Aurora?
Much of the Upper Midwest is within Sunday night’s viewing range, including North Dakota, parts of Montana, northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Alaska has the potential for northern lights Sunday, as well. Small slivers of northeastern Washington and northern Idaho are also within the viewing range, according to NOAA.
What’s The Best Time To View The Northern Lights?
Between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to NOAA. The aurora is brightest and most active during the hours around midnight, according to forecasters. Viewers hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights should try to move toward the magnetic north pole and away from cities and other sources of light pollution.
What Else Could I See Tonight?
The aurora borealis coincides with several major meteor showers actively taking place in the summer skies, including the annual Perseid meteor shower that began on July 17, although that shower is not expected to peak until August. Stargazers could also catch a glimpse of the Piscis Austrinid meteor shower, which will peak overnight, or the Southern Delta Aquariids, which will peak Tuesday.