The Northern Lights May Be Visible in the US This Week—Here's How to View the Equinox Auroras Auroral activity is expected on Thursday, March 20. Close Credit: Daniel Viñé Garcia / Getty Images Key Takeaways The northern lights may be visible in the United States on March 20, the same day as the spring equinox. Auroral activity is typically more abundant during the spring and autumn equinox due to the Russell-McPherron effect. For your best chance of seeing the northern lights, find a dark spot after the sun sets with a clear view of the sky. March has been a great month for celestial events, from a rare Blood Moon total lunar eclipse to a beautiful view of Mercury. But the excitement isn't over—the northern lights may put on a colorful display this week for many stargazers across the country to enjoy. On March 20, the same day as the spring equinox, a coronal mass ejection (CME) might graze Earth's magnetic field, causing minor geomagnetic storms. While most of the CME will miss Earth, its flank (its sideways or lateral regions) may make contact, according to a model from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Definition The sun shines directly on Earth’s equator during an equinox, resulting in nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness. Per SpaceWeather.com, even a small blow from a CME can cause a geomagnetic storm during March due to the Russell-McPherron effect, which is named after the researchers who first explained this phenomenon in the 1970s. The Russell-McPherron effect happens around the spring and autumn equinox when magnetic fields on the sun and Earth can align, creating a tunnel for solar wind to flow directly into Earth's magnetosphere. According to SpaceWeather.com, a 75-year study found that geomagnetic activity is much higher in spring and fall than in winter and summer, meaning northern lights sightings are also typically more abundant. Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), those in parts of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as Northern Washington, Idaho, Washington, South Dakota, and Maine, may be able to see the northern lights tomorrow. If you're interested in spotting the northern lights, you can use NOAA’s aurora view line to track the geomagnetic storm. Finding a dark spot after the sun sets with a clear view of the sky will be your best bet for seeing the northern lights. Explore more: News Space & Weather News Sources decorvow is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. What Is the Spring Equinox? Smithsonian Science Education Center.