The Northern Lights May Be Visible from These States This Weekend
A forecasted moderate geomagnetic storm is making this possible.
Advising someone to go "see stars" might be the newest version of encouraging them to "touch grass"—albeit in a more caring way. You can even take things a step further and tell people to go "see the night sky."
Trust me, it works. Stressed about work? Get outside and stargaze. Worried about your relationships? Just look at the night sky and marvel at all its sparkling celestial bodies. Can't sleep? Stare at the northern lights in awe. It's therapeutic, and personally, the vastness of space just reminds me to put things in perspective.
If you're going through a particularly stressful time, this weekend's night sky might be able to help. Thanks to a moderate geomagnetic storm, the aurora borealis—also known as the northern lights—might be visible further south than usual.
According to the official scale of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a geomagnetic storm of moderate intensity (G2) allows for the aurora borealis to be seen as far south as New York and Idaho. Such conditions, according to the official NOAA forecast, are expected to present themselves this weekend, on August 2 and 3.
However, remember that much like weather forecasts, aurora forecasts aren't always 100% accurate. If anything, space weather is more unpredictable! If you're unable to see the aurora this weekend, do not fret—you'll have plenty of other chances. Geomagnetic storms are quite common, so you'll just have to wait for another one that's strong enough for the aurora to be visible from the US.
To stay up to date with NOAA's predictions—and to check the current state of the aurora forecast—you can take a peek at this website.
Ready to go stargazing?
Here are all the best stargazing events that you can get out and see this month or you could stay in and stream the northern lights from home. If you're just getting started, check out our guide to astronomy for beginners or easy stargazing road trips from big US cities.