Which States May See The Northern Lights Thursday Night?
As is typical, Alaskans will have the best shot at seeing the northern lights Monday night. Much of the state has a high likelihood of seeing the aurora, according to NOAA’s projection. Other states with a smaller chance of seeing the lights include much of Montana and North Dakota, with the northern half of Minnesota having a decent chance. Other states with smaller chances include the northern parts of Washington, Idaho, Michigan, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
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What’s The Best Way To See The Northern Lights?
NOAA recommends viewers wait until it is dark outside to see the lights, which are usually most visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. Hopeful aurora viewers should also travel as far north as possible and find a high vantage point that lacks light pollution, NOAA says.
What’s The Best Way To Photograph The Lights?
Travel photographers told National Geographic the ideal way to take pictures of the northern lights is by using a tripod to stabilize the image, using a wide-angle lens and a lower shutter speed. Photographers using their iPhone should enable the camera’s night mode, turn off flash and shoot in RAW format.
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The northern lights made frequent appearances over the United States between 2024 and 2025 as the sun reached the “maximum” phase of its solar cycle, during which solar events like geomagnetic storms occur more frequently. The high level of solar activity surpassed scientists’ expectations, and NASA said the northern lights hit a 500-year peak in 2024. Auroral activity is expected to decline throughout the latter half of the decade as the sun exits its maximum period.
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further reading
Where and when to see the northern lights in 2026 (Space.com)