The Northern Lights May Shimmer Across the Sky Tonight—Here’s Where to Look

Attention, skywatchers! Auroras might pop up in your area tonight, especially if you're located in the northern U.S.

Thanks to the possible arrival of a glancing coronal mass ejection (CME)—an expulsion of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun—the northern lights could appear across the skies tonight, May 12.

Geomagnetic conditions are expected to intensify late tonight into early tomorrow, if the CME swipes Earth, according to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The incoming solar storm could trigger active geomagnetic conditions and isolated minor (G1) storm periods, increasing the chances of the northern lights showing up at high latitudes.

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Based on the current aurora view line forecast, which indicates the southernmost point where viewers may see the auroras, Alaska, Canada, and the northernmost parts of the U.S., including Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Washington, have the greatest chance of spotting the northern lights tonight.

The forecast remains somewhat uncertain, according to Space.com, because the CME is only expected to deliver a glancing blow at best, meaning the impact could be weaker than currently predicted.

If you want to catch the northern lights tonight, head outside between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time and find a north-facing point with a clear view of the horizon, far away from light pollution. Be sure to give your eyes time to adjust and use your phone's camera to scan the sky, as it's better at picking up faint auroras than the naked eye.